Game Day Preview: Miami at Denver


Miami at Denver


Breaking down the Dolphins and Broncos


Focal Point: Davis vs. the Dolphins defense


Inside the Broncos playbook

The Dolphins (11-5) make their first meaningful visit to Mile High Stadium since 1985 (Miami visited Denver in the 1993 preseason) as the infrequent rivals battle for the second time in four weeks and the first time ever in the playoffs. The Dolphins own a 6-2-1 edge in the standings and have gone unbeaten in the last five meetings (4-0-1) dating back to 1969.

	NFL POSTSEASON TOUCHDOWN LEADERS
	Thurman Thomas 20 games	21
	Emmitt Smith 16 games	20
	Jerry Rice 22 games	18
	POSTSEASON TOUCHDOWN PASSES
	Joe Montana 23 games	45
	Dan Marino 15 games	30
	Terry Bradshaw 19 games	30
	POSTSEASON PASSING YARDS
	Joe Montana 23 games	5,772
	John Elway 19 games	4,273
	Dan Marino 15 games	3,976
	POSTSEASON RECEPTIONS
	Jerry Rice 22 games	121
	Michael Irvin 16 games	87
	Andre Reed 20 games	85
	POSTSEASON FIELD GOALS
	George Blanda 19 games	22
	Gary Anderson 21 games	21
	Matt Bahr 14 games	21
	Steve Christie 11 games	21
	POSTSEASON SACKS
	Bruce Smith 19 games	12
	Reggie White 19 games	12
	Charles Haley 20 games	11
	Richard Dent 12 games	10½

The most recent meeting was a 31-21 Monday night triumph three weeks ago (Week 16) at Pro Player Stadium as Dolphins QB Dan Marino threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns, one interception -- three of those scores to WR Lamar Thomas -- while Miami's defense limited Broncos RB Terrell Davis to a season-low 29 yards rushing.

The Dolphins are 1-2-1 in four previous appearances in Denver dating back to 1966, and their last road tilt in this series was a rousing 30-26 victory at Mile High Stadium in 1985 in the first regular-season meeting between Marino and Broncos QB John Elway.

It's interesting to note that on Oct. 16, 1966, Miami defeated Denver 24-7 at the Orange Bowl for the first victory in franchise history. The Dolphins were 0-4 during the preseason and 0-5 to open the 1966 AFL season.

Numbers: Including the wild-card win over Buffalo, Marino has thrown for 2,488 yards (248.8 per game), 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his last 10 games this season, going 6-4. All 16 of those scores to WR O.J. McDuffie (seven), Oronde Gadsden (five) and Lamar Thomas (four) after throwing for just 1,244 yards (177.7 per game), eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first seven games (5-2).

In all games under coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins are 28-5 when they run the ball 25 or more times and 0-17 when they fail to run the ball at least 25 times. Including the playoffs, Miami has allowed 119 points in 11 wins and 163 points in six losses this season. Since 1996, the Dolphins have totaled 88 sacks and 73 takeaways in 28 wins but just 31 sacks and 31 takeaways in 22 losses.

Including the playoffs, Miami has forced 28 turnovers in its last 10 games. Including the playoffs, the Dolphins have allowed just nine sacks in 11 wins and 16 sacks in six losses this season.

Including the playoffs, Denver has scored 30 or more points in 34 of its 69 games under coach Mike Shanahan (1995-98). In 16 games this season, the Broncos have outscored the opposition a combined 144-51 in the first quarter, and a combined 300-141 in the first half.

Including the playoffs, Broncos RB Terrell Davis has scored a touchdown in 28 of his last 35 contests dating back to 1997, and he has rushed for 100 or more yards in 25 of his last 35 contests. Davis has rushed for 200 or more yards in three of his last 28 regular-season games. Including the playoffs, Denver has rushed for 130 or more yards in 26 of its last 36 contests.

The coaches: Johnson is 8-2 in postseason play (7-1 with the Cowboys, 1-1 with the Dolphins) while Shanahan is 4-1 in postseason play.

Postseason history: Miami makes its 18th playoff appearance -- all since the merger -- and it is 18-15 in postseason play. The Broncos are making their third consecutive playoff appearance and playing the 13th postseason in teams history. Denver is 13-11 in postseason play.

Things to look for: Just as last year's revenge matchup with the Jaguars proved to be the right tonic for the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Broncos are more than motivated to show Miami that this year's first encounter between the clubs was the exception rather than the rule. Still, the Denver secondary must play better than it has in recent weeks if it expects to stifle a revitalized Marino.

Etc.: The Dolphins are just 10-13 in the playoffs (10-5 at home, 0-6 on road, 0-2 in Super Bowls), dating back to the 1974 postseason. From 1970 to 1973, they had an 8-2 playoff record. Under Johnson, the Dolphins are 15-11 vs. the AFC East and 13-11 vs. the rest of the NFL, and they are 23-15 vs. AFC teams.

Elway owns a 100-25 record as a starter at Mile High Stadium, including a 6-2 playoff mark. Including the playoffs, Denver has won 17 straight home games, including one in the playoffs.