Colts at Dolphins
Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Fla.,
Sunday, Dec. 5

AT A GLANCE: Postseason positioning is at stake in the second meeting of the year between the Dolphins and Colts. Indianapolis holds a one-game lead over Miami in the AFC East, but the Dolphins are looking for a season sweep.

Now, as we enter the homestretch of the 1999 season, the conventional line of thinking has been tossed out the window. The revised "Game of the Year" — Colts vs. Dolphins — in the "Division of the Year" has serious playoff implications.

Heading into this Week 13 battle, the first-place Colts (9-2) have a one-game lead over the Dolphins (8-3). If Miami wins, it would tie Indianapolis for first place, but the Dolphins would own the head-to-head tiebreaker via a season sweep of the Colts.

In the first meeting of the season, the Dolphins came from behind to knock off the Colts 34-31. That game featured a controversial replay ruling that kept the Dolphins in possession of the ball on the decisive, game-winning drive. The Colts, infuriated at the ruling, believe that QB Dan Marino fumbled. Instead, officials ruled the play an incomplete pass.

The Colts haven’t lost since their Week Five meeting with the Dolphins. They are currently riding a seven-game winning streak, their longest since 1975.

WHEN THE COLTS HAVE THE BALL:

The Colts, featuring their trio of young stars — QB Peyton Manning, RB Edgerrin James and WR Marvin Harrison — have been held to less than 25 points only twice this season, both times vs. the Jets. You can bet that Miami will be studying film of those meetings in an effort to mimic some of the strategies employed by Jets defensive coordinator Bill Belichick.

In the first meeting vs. the Dolphins, the Colts had some success with rollouts in an attempt to elude Miami’s pressure, so expect to see more of that.

It will be important for James to pick up blitzers this week, something he has done fairly well for a rookie. He will also have to take care of the ball, which has been a problem at times. He coughed it up in Week Five near the goalline after MLB Zach Thomas delivered a very hard hit.

Manning and Harrison have been in a groove all season. However, Harrison’s numbers have been down a bit the past two games. There is a possibility that CB Patrick Surtain will replace Terrell Buckley for Miami, as Buckley is feeling the lingering effects of an early-season ankle injury.