If you don’t think football is important in Pittsburgh, this story might change your mind. It also might cause a hesitation the next time you’re at a favorite sports bar about to order another plate of wings.

We all by now know about what happened last Sunday in Indianapolis (no, I’m not talking about Ron Artest’s latest shameless plug of his R & B group) at the end of the AFC divisional playoff game between the Colts and Steelers.

The final five minutes or so of this particular game was nothing less than astonishing. From the missed call on the Troy Palamalu’s interception to the fumble by Jerome Bettis to the missed field goal by Mike Vanderjagt, the events that unfolded were straight out of a FOX made-for-TV movie.

About the time when you could hear all of western Pennsylvania cry "oh my God!" at the same time, Terry O’Neill of Pittsburgh suffered an apparent Steelers-induced heart attack at a local watering hole.

Thankfully, O’Neill was able to receive prompt medical attention and is doing fine although he says he will likely stay home this weekend to watch the AFC title game. No word on whether Bettis will be charged in the matter.

Although there were a number of incredible events in this game, there was only one that could be classified as a true once-in-a-lifetime event: Bettis’s improbable and inexcusable fumble.

Had the Indianapolis Colts gone on to win the game and the Super Bowl, I have to doubt that the play would have gone down as the most famous play in NFL history.

In fact, even though the Colts didn’t win (and didn’t deserve to win anyway), I feel compelled to write an entire column on the fumble alone. Here are the main players in the play and the events that unfolded after the change of possession.

Bill Cowher: Up until the final minute, Cowher made all the right coaching moves, including two 4th down gambles late in the second half and all the right adjustments.

That said he does deserve some criticism. Not as much as Bettis, but he should have played it differently. Here was the situation: Manning just got sacked on fourth down at his own two-yard line. The Steelers had the ball first and goal from that spot up by three points with the Colts holding three timeouts.

Cowher had only one way to conceivably lose the game: turn the ball over. What he should have done was run three consecutive quarterback sneaks with Ben Rothlisberger. That way, even if Pittsburgh was stopped short of the goal line each time, Indy would have two time outs left and almost no chance of a ball bouncing loose up for grabs.

At that point, Cowher could either go for it on fourth down (if they get stuffed again, the Colts have to start from their own one with no timeouts) or kick a field goal and force the Colts to score a touchdown on the ensuing possession.

You can argue this either way, but I am of the firm belief that Cowher could have handled this sequence better.

Nick Harper: Talk about a guy who has an unusual few days (both strangely involving cuts). During the week leading up the biggest game of his life, Harper’s estranged wife was jailed on a domestic abuse charge after allegedly stabbing Harper in the leg with a knife.

After being cleared to play, Harper found himself some good karma and was in position to score the most improbable touchdown in the history of pro football. With Bettis charging for the goal line, Colts linebacker Gary Brackett jarred the football loose and right into the arms of Harper. Now the race to immortality is on!

Inexplicably, however, Harper chose to run straight up the field and not angle toward the sideline. Seemingly, he headed right for the only guy that can slow him down: Rothlisberger. I watched the replay about 10 times and it doesn’t even look like Harper tried to make a move on Big Ben.

Looking like A.J. Hawk holding his ground against a quicker running back, Rothlisberger got just enough of Harper to trip him up near midfield. Are you kidding me? Could a guy have a worse week? It was as if God was saying "Sorry about that whole being stabbed by you wife thing, here’s a little present that will ease your pain."

Alas, Harper pulled a Michael Bennett and ran right into the quarterback turned defender and won’t be remembered for anything. It’s kind of like winning the Powerball and losing the ticket on the way to claiming the prize.

Rothlisberger: The Miami (Ohio) product had a great rookie year in 2004, helping the Steelers to a 15-1 record. In the playoffs, however, Rothlisberger was shaky and looked overmatched in the AFC title game loss to New England.

Not so this year. Thanks to a wonderfully played game and a heads up play to slow up Harper’s return just enough, Big Ben will get a chance to redeem himself this Sunday in Denver.

If the Steelers do go on to win the championship, Rothlisberger’s tackle will be the most famous play in Pittsburgh football history, replacing Franco Harris’ immaculate reception. Yes, we may have a new golden boy on our hands. Oh, and he’s only 24.

Jerome Bettis: What a warrior, what a model citizen, what a… bonehead! I don’t care who you are and what you have done in your career, Bettis deserves to be ripped to his colossal mishap.

In that situation, you need to hold that football with both arms and never let go for anything. They should have to rip your arms off to get it. Bettis needed to hold it like he was on death row and that football was video tapped evidence that someone else did the crime.

No excuse. Period. If Pittsburgh wins it all and he finally does get his ring, Bettis is the luckiest man ever to grace the Steel City.

Peyton Manning: I was disappointed in Manning’s performance in the final minute and in the post game press conference. Did anyone else see Sean Salisbury’s take on ESPN where he broke down the final three plays before the field goal? It was pathetic strategy by Manning.

I don’t care who your kicker is and what his percentage is for the year (didn’t we all learn this in 1999 with Gary Anderson in Minnesota?), you don’t want to have to count on him making a 46 yarder to force overtime.

The Colts needed one more first down and then they would have at least two shots to go for the end zone. On second and third down, Manning had his check downs wide open and he got greedy. Then, in the locker room afterward, he criticized his offensive lineman for their "protection breakdowns."

Hey, Peyton, how about some accountability?

Manning is a great NFL quarterback, but he will never be considered with the top 10 of all time until he wins a Super Bowl.

If this weekend’s games are anything like this last nail-biter in Indianapolis, I might have a heart attack and I’m not even a fan of any of these teams.

Nah, I think I’ve seen it all now. Hey, Terry, pass the wings!