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Colts' 2005 Near-Miss: A Championship Lost?
18 Jun
Summary
- A missed 46-yard field goal in 2005 tied the game, not guaranteed a win.
- Winning overtime meant hosting Denver in the AFC Championship Game.
- That 2005 Colts team may have been the best of the Manning era.
The 2005 Indianapolis Colts' playoff journey ended with a missed 46-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This pivotal moment, nearly two decades ago, remains a significant 'what-if' in franchise history. The kick, if successful, would have tied the game at 21, sending it into overtime.
Surviving overtime against Pittsburgh was not a guaranteed win. However, if the Colts had advanced, they would have hosted the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. This scenario offered a strong chance for Indianapolis, considered the league's most complete team that season, to reach the Super Bowl.
Indianapolis likely would have been favored against both Denver at home and the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. The missed kick did not cost a certain championship but ended the chance for the best team of the Peyton Manning era to solidify its legacy with an earlier title.
This 2005 team, which started 13-0 and finished 14-2, possessed a dominant offense, a strong pass rush, and a capable defense. A Super Bowl victory in 2005 could have altered Peyton Manning's legacy sooner and reshaped the perception of his prime years with the Colts.
