Dolphins at Colts
RCA Dome
Indianapolis, Ind.
Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000
AT A GLANCE: The race for the AFC East crown got a little
tighter last week with four teams now within one game of each other. This game is the
first of five key divisional battles involving those teams down the stretch.
|
| OVERVIEW: As is typically the case each season, with
five weeks left, the AFC East is too close to call. The Dolphins still lead the pack at
8-3 despite losing in Week 12 to the Jets. The Colts also lost in Week 12 to run their
record to 7-4 and put them in a three-way tie with the Jets and Bills. This is the first
game of the season between these two teams. The second is scheduled for Week 16.
Tiebreakers could come into play at the end of the season, and these teams will need
the upper hand wherever they can get it.
The Dolphins need to stop losing division games. They are 2-2 against AFC East
opponents with both losses coming at the hands of the Jets. They play four of their last
five against division rivals.
The Colts also play four of their last five against division mates, but they have gone
3-1 in division games so far.
The two teams split the series last year, with the Dolphins winning the game at the RCA
Dome.
Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt has worked to keep his players motivated to avoid a
repeat of last year, when the team lost five of its last six games to stumble into the
playoffs.
Colts head coach Jim Mora has taken on a business-as-usual ap-proach to wins and
losses, and his players have picked up that philosophy. The Colts don’t seem to get
too high or too low, regardless of a game’s outcome.
WHEN THE DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL:
The Dolphins could face a serious challenge on offense if they are without QB Jay
Fiedler and/or RB Lamar Smith. Both players were knocked out of the Week 12 game —
Fiedler with a pinched nerve and Smith with a hamstring injury. Both players are expected
to play, but check their status during the week. |
|
|
| RCA Dome |
| Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Date: Sunday, November 26, 2000 |
| 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Miami |
8-3-0 |
| |
Indianapolis |
7-4-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami |
8-2-1 |
| |
Indianapolis |
6-5-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Miami (R) |
3-2-0 |
| |
Indianapolis (H) |
4-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami (R) |
3-1-1 |
| |
Indianapolis (H) |
3-2-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
Miami |
1-1-0 |
| |
Indianapolis |
6-1-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Miami |
1-1-0 |
| |
Indianapolis |
5-2-0 |
|
|
| Smith has been the go-to guy for Miami; losing him would seriously hamper the
Dolphins’ attack. RBs J.J. Johnson and Autry Denson did a decent job in Smith’s
place last week, but they can’t be expected to produce at Smith’s level. If
Fiedler sits out, QB Damon Huard must play much better than he did in relief in Week 12.
Huard completed 16-of-29 passes for 128 yards with three interceptions. The Dolphins would
like Huard to return to his form of 1999, when he led the team to a 5-1 record in relief
of Dan Marino.
The Colts’ defense, on the other hand, has not struck fear into the hearts of
opponents this year. The loss of LB Rob Morris has killed the team in the middle, and the
secondary has been very suspect, especially against the big play.
The front four must get after the quarterback much more than they have in recent games.
After recording 19 sacks in the first six games, the Colts have just five sacks in the
last five games.
WHEN THE COLTS HAVE THE BALL:
The Colts have not been able to find a consistent rhythm on offense, and it has hurt
them. QB Peyton Manning and RB Edgerrin James have looked more down-to-earth this year. Of
course, they set the bar fairly high.
James has had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games only twice this season, and he has
two fewer 100-yard games (five) than he had at this point last season.
Manning has been solid, but he hasn’t taken over games as often this year, and at
times he has seemed unable to methodically pick opponents’ defenses apart. The
Dolphins will have to throw the book at him and force him into mistakes.
WR Marvin Harrison has quietly been battling Bills WR Eric Moulds for the NFL lead in
receptions. Harrison is among the leaders in receiving yards.
The Colts’ offense has had some problems against the average teams in the league,
but it seems to show up and play well in big games.
The Dolphins’ defense has carried Miami this year, even with several injuries to
key players such as DT Daryl Gardener (who has returned) and MLB Zach Thomas (leg), who is
expected to miss this game.
The secondary has been the unit’s saving grace of late, stepping up in order to
compensate for injuries to the front seven.
CBs Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison are two of the best in the league, and safeties
Brian Walker and Brock Marion are perfect complements for each other. The Dolphins have an
interception in every game this year except one and are a top team in turnover margin. If
they can force the Colts into mistakes, the Dolphins will have few problems on defense.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Nov. 19, 2000 |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
84 SHEPHERD, 81 McDuffie, 80 Martin |
| OLT |
78 WEBB, 74 B. Smith |
| OLG |
63 DIXON, 66 Irwin, 64 Cesario |
| C |
61 RUDDY |
| ORG |
65 DONNALLEY, 66 Irwin, 62 Anderson |
| ORT |
71 WADE*, 74 B. Smith |
| TE |
83 GOODWIN, 82 Weaver, 89 Perry |
| WR |
86 GADSDEN, 87 Emanuel, 88 Ogden |
| QB |
9 FIEDLER, 11 Huard, 4 Quinn |
| RB |
26 L. SMITH, 32 J. Johnson, 21 Denson |
| FB |
44 KONRAD, 33 Dyer* |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
79 MIXON, 96 Owens, 93 Armstrong |
| DLT |
95 BOWENS, 94 Haley |
| DRT |
92 GARDENER, 97 Grant* |
| DRE |
99 TAYLOR, 91 Bromell |
| WLB |
59 ROGERS, 51 Hendricks |
| MLB |
52 R. JONES, 54 Z. Thomas, 53 Izzo |
| SLB |
56 RUSSELL, 51 Hendricks |
| LCB |
23 SURTAIN, 24 Wilson |
| RCB |
29 MADISON, 22 Shaw |
| SS |
45 WALKER, 27 Freeman*, 42 Gamble* |
| FS |
31 MARION, 25 Jeffries |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
1 TURK |
| PK |
10 MARE |
| H |
11 HUARD, 1 Turk |
| PR |
84 SHEPHERD, 88 Ogden |
| KR |
31 MARION, 88 Ogden |
| KC |
89 PERRY, 83 Goodwin |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
86 PATHON, 84 Green |
| OLT |
78 GLENN, 73 Meadows |
| OLG |
76 McKINNEY, 74 Jackson |
| C |
63 SATURDAY, 54 Armour |
| ORG |
50 MOORE, 69 Gilbert |
| ORT |
73 MEADOWS, 74 Jackson |
| TE |
85 DILGER, 81 Pollard, 83 Keur* |
| WR |
88 HARRISON, 80 Wilkins |
| QB |
18 MANNING, 13 Holcomb, 14 Hobert |
| RB |
32 JAMES, 43 McDougal*, 30 Gordon |
| H-b |
36 FINN, 39 Shields |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
79 HOLSEY, 90 M. Thomas |
| DLT |
95 WHITTINGTON, 64 Chester |
| DRT |
96 J. WILLIAMS*, 65 Miller*, 62 Johnson |
| DRE |
92 BRATZKE, 99 Scioli, 93 Barnes |
| LLB |
97 BENNETT, 53 Washington*, 98 Sword |
| MLB |
56 HOLLIER, 51 Glover |
| RLB |
52 PETERSON, 55 R. Thomas |
| LCB |
20 BURRIS, 41 P. Williams*, 31 Crosby |
| RCB |
38 POOLE, 28 Macklin*, 31 Muhammad |
| SS |
37 COTA, 47 Austin |
| FS |
29 BELSER, 26 Blevins |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
17 SMITH |
| PK |
12 VANDERJAGT, 7 Kight |
| H |
17 SMITH |
| PR |
80 WILKINS, 41 P. Williams* |
| KR |
41 P. WILLIAMS* |
| KC |
48 SNOW*, 85 Dilger |
* Rookie |
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