Baltimore Ravens Even if the Indianapolis Colts' storybook year ends in Baltimore tomorrow, the team's amazing rise from a two-win team in 2011 amid head coach Chuck Pagano's leukemia fight has been one of the best things about the 2012 NFL season.
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One day before his team is scheduled to face the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC wild-card playoff game, a letter Pagano wrote to the city of Indianapolis was published in Indiana's biggest newspaper.
Via Indianapolis Star: To the people of Indiana: When I accepted the job as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts last January, it was a dream come true for me and my family. I knew I was coming to an organization with a great owner and a great winning tradition. I knew Indy had great fans, but I might have underestimated just how great. Being new to the community I never expected the outpouring of support I received from Colts fans throughout the state and country. The love and support you showed my family and me gave me a tremendous amount of comfort and peace. Every letter, success story, prayer and act of kindness made this process a whole lot easier. I am also fortunate to have had some of the best doctors and nurses in the country right here in Indiana to care for me. I am proud to serve as the head coach of your Colts. I take great pride in knowing that the team has persevered this season because you have shown them the same support you have shown my family and me. You have had a huge impact on my recovery and our season and I look forward to accomplishing great things here for a long, long time. On behalf of the Pagano family, thank you for helping me heal and for showing our country that we do have the best fans in the entire world; fans whose love for their coaches and players extends way beyond the football field. Sincerely,
Chuck Pagano While Pagano's presence has inspired many in the state of Indiana, he'll likely get a reception in Baltimore that no opposing coach has likely ever received, especially in a playoff game. The former defensive coordinator for the Ravens, Pagano has been in regular contact with several of his former players throughout the season.
"The whole connection runs deep," Ravens safety Ed Reed told the Indianapolis Star. "I think it really just hit me that he is coming back and I'll see him across the field. With all that Chuck and I have been through, and with him being my old coach, him knowing me so well and me growing up around him, and him being part of my family, it is going to be special."
PHOTOS: Most memorable NFL Wild Card moments 
Terrell Owens (pictured) had a case of the dropsies all day during a 1998 NFC Wild Card game, but Steve Young didn't give up on him. With the 49ers needing a touchdown, Young threw over the middle to Owens, who caught the game-winning 25-yard touchdown sandwiched between two Packers defenders for a 30-27 win.
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The game needs no explanation, really. It's known simply as "The Comeback". Down 32 points, the Bills, led by backup quarterback Frank Reich (14), pulled off the greatest comeback in NFL history to defeat the Oilers 41-38 in overtime of a 1992 AFC Wild Card game. There hasn't been a game like it since.
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It's one of the few plays in NFL history with it's own name: "The Music City Miracle". In a 1999 AFC Wild Card game, Frank Wychek took the ball on a kickoff and lateraled it (or did he?) to Kevin Dyson (pictured), who returned it for a touchdown in the final seconds to give the Titans a 22-16 win over the Bills. It'll never be forgotten.
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Two of the NFL's oldest rivals played an epic 2002 AFC Wild Card game as Tommy Maddox, the NFL's comeback player of the year, threw three touchdowns in the final 19 minutes to lead the Steelers back from 17 points down for a 36-33 win over the Browns.
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The 49ers were left for dead in a 2002 NFC Wild Card game after facing a 24-point deficit. But Jeff Garcia (pictured) led San Francisco to the second-largest comeback in playoff history as the 49ers pulled off a stunning 39-38 victory that ended in controversy because of a muffed Giants field goal attempt that snapper Trey Junkin won't ever live down.
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Heading into the 2002 playoffs, the Packers were 13-0 in the postseason at home. But a young, 22-year-old Michael Vick (pictured) went into Lambeau Field and led the Falcons to a convincing 27-7 win in an NFC Wild Card game.
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Who could forget Matt Hasselbeck declaring, for all of us to hear, during the overtime coin toss that the Seahawks wanted the ball and they were going to score. Well, it didn't go as Hasselbeck planned as he threw this pick-six to Al Harris (pictured), giving the Packers a dramatic 33-27 victory in a 2003 NFC Wild Card game.
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In a 2004 NFC Wild game, the Vikings went into Lambeau Field and defeated the rival Packers 31-17 for an impressive win. But the moment we, and Joe Buck, will never forget is Randy Moss pretending to moon the crowd after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
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It's the moment Tony Romo (pictured) has been trying to live down ever since it happened. 2006 NFC Wild Card game. Cowboys-Seahawks. Dallas was a 19-yard chip-shot field goal away from a win, except Romo botched the snap with 1:19 remaining, allowing the Seahawks to hold on for a 21-20 victory. It's the moment that still defines Romo's career.
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The highest-scoring game in playoff history absolutely was bonkers and ended in the most dramatic of ways. In overtime, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' fumble (pictured) forced by Michael Adams (pictured) was scooped up and returned 17 yards for a touchdown by Karlos Dansby, clinching a 51-45 win for the Cardinals in a 2009 NFC Wild Card game.
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As 7-9 division champions, the Seahawks were the red-headed step children of the 2010 playoffs. All they did, though, was defeat the defending Super Bowl champion Saints 41-36 in an NFC Wild Card game, which will forever be remembered by this breathtaking 67-yard touchdown run from Marshawn Lynch (pictured) in he broke seven tackles on his way to the end zone.
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In the year of Tim Tebow, what did you expect? The Broncos and Steelers played into overtime of a 2011 AFC Wild Card game, but all it took was a blown coverage by Pittsburgh and a short pass to Demaryius Thomas (pictured). From there, Thomas did the rest by stiff-arming Ike Taylor, then sprinting for an 80-yard touchdown to seal Denver's 29-23 win on the first play of OT.
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