NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS / AFC

Miami (11-6) at Denver (14-2)

1:15 p.m., Channel 2

* HEAD TO HEAD: In his first matchup with John Elway since 1985, Dan Marino dominated the Broncos on Dec. 21 at Miami, passing for a season-high 355 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-21 Dolphin victory. Elway, playing in Miami for the first time in his 16-year career, completed only 13 of 36 passes for 151 yards, with two fourth-quarter interceptions, and Terrell Davis was held to a season-low 29 yards in 16 carries.

* SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS: The Dolphins survived the wild-card round when they sacked Doug Flutie and forced a fumble inside the 10-yard line in the final seconds of a 24-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills at Miami. Marino is still dangerous, as he showed the Broncos last month, and the defense ranks third in the NFL, its best showing since it led the league in 1982. But the Dolphins are 3-5 outside Pro Player Stadium and gave up 331 yards a game--about 55 yards more than their overall average--on the road. Plus, they’ll be without starting end Jason Taylor, sidelined because of a broken clavicle, and starting tackle Tim Bowens, who will sit out because of a biceps injury.

* SCOUTING THE BRONCOS: Forget last month’s loss to the Dolphins. The game didn’t mean anything to the Broncos, who had already clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and no longer had a chance to finish the season unbeaten after losing the previous week to the New York Giants. “I don’t think the team that showed up that game is any way indicative of the type of team we have,” fullback Howard Griffith said. “I think everyone is going to relish the opportunity to go back out and redeem ourselves.” The defending Super Bowl champions have won 17 in a row at Mile High Stadium, scoring at least 30 points in 13 of their last 16. On the other hand, the Bronco defense ranks 26th against the pass and Marino has already shredded it once.

* NOW YOU KNOW: In two games against the Dolphins, Elway has passed for no touchdowns, with three interceptions.

* THEY SAID IT: Dolphin defensive end Trace Armstrong: “We won’t see the same Denver team we saw before. We’re going to see the world champions after a week off. We’re going to see them at their absolute best.”

* THE LINE: Broncos by 13 1/2.