Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden breaks up a potential game-winning pass intended for Colts receiver Reggie Wayne at the goal line with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Click photo for larger image.

INDIANAPOLIS -- All of the sudden, the Steelers weren't scoring a touchdown to cinch a trip to the AFC championship game. All of the sudden, the Colts were racing toward the other end zone with the football and the chance to either send the game into overtime or end the Steelers' season.

So, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau promptly decided to follow his fellows onto the RCA Dome field, being firm and steadfast with them, being calm and confident.

They followed his lead.

"I probably thought the game was going to go into overtime, unless we could get a turnover," LeBeau admitted later, after the topsy-turvy, 21-18 Steelers survival test of an AFC division playoff game. Good thing he didn't tell that to his defensive players. After all, they abruptly were forced to cease their sideline celebrations -- "we were giving each other hugs and high-fives," recalled safety Chris Hope, though cornerback Deshea Townsend, for one, was busily jawing with Colts fans -- and gird for a return.

Just when the Steelers giddily thought their offense would plunge in from the Indianapolis 2 for a decisive score, cornerback Ike Taylor remembered, "All I heard was [LeBeau] saying, 'Defense, defense, we got to get back on the field."

Colts cornerback Nick Harper -- playing despite a one-inch stab wound allegedly inflicted by his wife, Daniell, who was arrested Saturday -- returned an atypical Jerome Bettis fumble to the Indianapolis 42. That swiftly, the Colts and Peyton Manning were setting up shop within striking range, 61 seconds remaining and three timeouts in hand. It was especially dangerous territory against the quarterback who moments earlier in the fourth quarter rallied the Colts with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, paring the Steelers' 21-10 lead to merely a field-goal's difference.

In a blink, the Steelers' defense needed to transform from delirious celebration to serious concentration.

That's where LeBeau came in, stopping several steps inbounds to gather his defenders and gather their wits.

He stared into their helmets, steely eyes gazing into Steelers eyes.

He knew.

"At the very end, when that play hit us, I walked about halfway on the field with my guys," LeBeau said. I looked around, and there wasn't a different look in any of their eyes. James [Farrior] was just looking back at me, saying, 'C'mon coach, what [defense] are we going to play? We're going to keep them out of here.' And they did.

"That's the kind of guys we got. It was a tremendous thing."

The Colts made it interesting. On the first play of what could have been the Steelers' last defensive stand of the season, Manning found Reggie Wayne open in the secondary's underbelly for a 22-yard gain to the Steelers' 36. One play, and the Colts were already within Mike Vanderjagt's field-goal distance. Manning and his mates weren't done, either.

He completed an 8-yard pass, to the Steelers' 28, to Marvin Harrison. Thirty-one seconds remained. Two plays from scrimmage and 2 yards for a first down remained. The Colts went after the lone rookie on the Steelers' defense, cornerback Bryant McFadden, their nickel back with the nine passes defended this season.

On the first play, Manning lobbed into the end zone's left corner for Wayne.

"Me and Wayne were battling for the ball," McFadden said later, between bites of a cheese pizza. "He was juggling it. I kept trying to fight, fight. I was falling, because I jumped before he did. Coach always says play to the whistle, and that's what I did." The pass fell incomplete.

"Hopefully," teased Townsend, still angry at the overturned call on what appeared to be a Troy Polamalu interception earlier in the quarter, "the ref would call it a no-catch like they did with Troy."

"Aw, man," Farrior added, "he bobbled it and almost caught it. When I saw [Wayne's] feet go out of bounds, I could take a breath."

McFadden couldn't.

On the next play, a third-and-2, Manning and Wayne went right back at the rookie. This time, Manning's pass down the left sideline was underthrown and Wayne didn't notice in time. McFadden made a diving stab at an interception, but couldn't hold on. "I was like, 'Oh my goodness,' " said McFadden, a second-round pick in April. "But it was a tough catch."

"B-Mac made two big plays at the end," Townsend said.

Then, it was left to the right foot of Vanderjagt, the most-accurate place-kicker in NFL history. His 46-yard field goal sailed wide right with 21 seconds left. Steelers delirium ensued.

"It was so crazy," Farrior said. "I probably had every emotion going through my head there that one minute. Up, down. Up, down. Then, when Vanderjagt missed that kick, I could breathe again."

Farrior was doing considerable breathing in the end. Yet it was what lay underneath the lungs, beating away, that Polamalu mentioned afterward. To him, the defense remained as steely as its coordinator.

"Whether you think the momentum swung or the emotions switched," Polamalu said, "it didn't."