Last Sunday's win over Indianapolis will go down as one of the Steelers' greatest postseason wins, aside from the franchise's four Super Bowl victories.

But once the shock over the way the game ended wore off and Joey Porter finished his tirade regarding the officiating, one fact should've brought Pittsburgh fans back down to earth: The victory at Indianapolis simply got the team back to the AFC Championship Game, a hurdle which the Steelers have failed to clear in four of five attempts under Bill Cowher.

Whether they blame it on Cowher's coaching or his players' execution, Steelers fans know the conference title game horror stories all too well.

There's the 1994 game, in which Pittsburgh outgained San Diego 415-226 in offensive yards, but two 43-yard touchdown passes in the second half from Stan Humphries propelled the Chargers to an upset win, 17-13.

In 1997, Kordell Stewart, who electrified the NFL with 21 touchdowns passing and 11 rushing during the regular season, committed four turnovers in a 24-21 loss to the Broncos.

After three seasons of not even making the playoffs, Pittsburgh rose to a 13-3 record in 2001, only to suffer a very "special" loss in the AFC Championship — as in special teams, that is.

In a game decided by seven points, (24-17, Pittsburgh gave up one touchdown on a punt return and another on a blocked field goal return as the Patriots moved on to Super Bowl XXXVI.

And, of course, there's last season's debacle at Heinz Field.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had played so well as a rookie during a magical 15-1 regular season, was overwhelmed by New England's defense and the expectations placed upon him. He threw three interceptions in a 41-27 defeat.

But wedged between those disappointing losses is the 1995 win over Indianapolis.

In a game that seemed destined to match the loss to San Diego the year before, Pittsburgh converted a fourth-and-3 near midfield that led to the go-ahead touchdown.

Steelers fans everywhere then had to watch as the team's first trip to the Super Bowl in 16 years came down to a Hail Mary pass from Indianapolis' Jim Harbaugh, which fell off of Aaron Bailey's stomach and onto the turf in the end zone, preserving a 20-16 Pittsburgh win.

That is the game Cowher must hang his hat on, until he matches it with another AFC title game triumph, and, possibly, a Super Bowl victory.

It's not that Cowher hasn't been a successful coach. His regular season record (141-82) speaks for itself.

But let's face it: if Cowher is ever going to be mentioned in the same breath as the Lombardis, Shulas and Landrys, he will get there only by winning Super Bowls.

Here the Steelers are once again; one step away from the game of all games.

The biggest difference is that, this time, unlike their other five opportunities, the Steelers are on the road for the conference title game. Cowher admitted following last Sunday's win that maybe going on the road was the way to go after his teams have been disappointed so many times at home.

Maybe he's right.

But one thing is certain: the odds are still stacked against the Steelers.

Before this season, Cowher's teams were 0-3 in road playoff games. The odds of Pittsburgh winning three straight games on the road in the same season are long.

Then again, the Steelers showed what they think of long odds last week by disposing of the heavily favored Colts.

A loss Sunday in Denver will force Pittsburgh's faithful to put the 2005 season on the close, but no cigar shelf, which might need an extra support beam before too long.

But a win, which will take a performance not unlike last week's outing against the Colts, will send the Steelers to Super Bowl XL in Detroit.

That's where Pittsburgh can turn a very good season into one for the ages.