The Colts head south to Pro Player Stadium as the Dolphins are in position to sweep this longtime divisional series for the second straight season.

Eight weeks ago at the RCA Dome (Week 5), Indianapolis owned a 17-9 lead entering the fourth quarter but the teams combined for 39 points in the final 15 minutes. A see-saw quarter saw the Colts claim a 31-22 with 8:14 to play thanks to QB Peyton Manning's (274 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) third touchdown pass of the afternoon, but Jimmy Johnson's team scored 12 points in the final 3:20 thanks to PK Olindo Mare's 43-yard field goal, a safety (CB Sam Madison trapped Manning in the end zone) and QB Dan Marino's (393 yards, 2 TDs) 2-yard TD pass to WR Oronde Gadsden with just :27 remaining as Miami rallied for a 34-31 triumph.

While Miami has won three straight and has dominated this AFC East rivalry historically (41-19, including a 21-0 victory in the 1971 AFC Championship Game), the clubs have split their last 10 encounters dating back to the teams' second meeting in 1994.

As for the Colts' last appearance in Miami (Week 10 of '98), Marino threw a pair of touchdown passes to WR O.J. McDuffie (61 and 6 yards) as Johnson's club built a 27-0 lead enroute to a 27-14 victory.

The Colts have lost three straight and are 4-8 lifetime at Pro Player Stadium dating back to 1987.

Numbers: Dolphins QB Dan Marino owns a 22-10 record as a starter vs. the Colts and has thrown for 7,224 yards, 51 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions in 32 career meetings. In his last six games, Colts RB Edgerrin James has rushed for 719 yards and 5 touchdowns (running for 100 or more yards in 5 of those contests), plus caught 36 passes for 407 yards and 2 touchdown. James has rushed for 100 or more yards in 7-of-11 contests in '99. After throwing just three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his first four games, Colts QB Peyton Manning has thrown 44 TD passes and 29 interceptions in his last 23 contests dating back to '98, throwing two or more touchdown passes in 14 of his last 22 games. However, Manning has thrown two or more interceptions in nine of his last 20 contests. Manning has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 24 straight games dating back to '98. After allowing an AFC-high 62 sacks in 16 games in 1997, the Colts have allowed just 32 sacks in their last 27 games dating back to '98. After allowing 11 sacks in their first four games in 1998, the Colts have allowed just 21 sacks in their last 23 contests, giving up zero sacks in 12 of those 23 contests. The Colts have allowed 139 points in nine wins, 65 points in two losses in '99.

Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins are 36-5 when they run the ball 25 or more times, 0-21 when they fail to run the ball at least 25 times. In 14 home games dating back to '98 (including playoffs), the Dolphins have allowed just 168 points, 3,373 yards of total offense (240.9 YPG) and just 10 offensive touchdowns. Including playoffs, the Dolphins have allowed 256 points in 19 wins, 267 points in 10 losses dating back to '98. PK Olindo Mare has kicked 29 field goals in 11 games in '99; the NFL record for field goals in a season is 37, set by Carolina's John Kasay in 1996. Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins have totaled 114 sacks and 94 takeaways in 36 wins but just 34 QB traps and 33 takeaways in 26 losses.

Things to look for: The sign of a maturing team is the ability to win the close games evenwhen you don't play your best, and the Colts' victory over the Jets showed that they are not only in the divisional race but a Super Bowl contender as well. While it was Jimmy Johnson's club that handed Indianapolis its last defeat, but Miami's defense will have to play its best game of the season if there is to be a repeat performance.

Etc.: The Colts are 9-2, their best start since 1977, when they opened 9-1, finished 10-4 and won the AFC East under since-departed head coach Ted Marchibroda (his first stint with the team). They have won seven straight games in the same season for the first time since 1975, when they won their final 9 games enroute to a 10-4 season and won the AFC East under Marchibroda. The Colts are 9-2 in 1999, this after finishing a combined 6-26 in 1997-98. They have won four straight road games.

Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins are 18-13 vs. AFC East foes.