Colts Stay Afloat While Dolphins Flounder Again

Former coach Jimmy Johnson emerged from the Miami Dolphins’ locker room wearing a grim expression, because what he had just watched was all too familiar.

The Indianapolis Colts averted elimination from the playoff race Sunday and left Miami on the brink of another late-season collapse. NFL rushing leader Edgerrin James ran for 112 yards, Peyton Manning threw for 206 and Indianapolis took advantage of a rare fast start to beat Miami, 20-13.

For the second week in a row, the AFC East-leading Dolphins (10-5) missed a chance to clinch a playoff berth. They’ve lost consecutive games for the first time this season, but the late fade is nothing new. In the past five seasons Miami is 39-21 through November and 9-15 from Dec. 1 on.

Johnson, who coached most of those games, was in attendance Sunday for the first time since he retired in January. He declined to speak with reporters, but Coach Dave Wannstedt said history has no bearing on this season.

“We will rally,” Wannstedt said. “We will hang together and bounce back.”

The Dolphins can still clinch a playoff berth if they win next Sunday at New England. The Colts (9-6) play Minnesota at Indianapolis.

“Every game in December is a playoff game,” defensive end Jason Taylor said. “Guys need to realize that. If not, then they need to stay at home instead of going to New England.”

The Colts, trying to salvage a disappointing season, staved off elimination for the second game in a row.

“Two weeks ago it wasn’t looking too good, and a lot of people were counting us out,” Coach Jim Mora said. “We don’t push the panic button.”

Just before the game, an emotional Mora told his players that the New York Jets had lost to the Detroit Lions, helping the Colts’ playoff chances.

The Colts will make the playoffs if they beat the Minnesota Vikings and the Jets lose at Baltimore in season finales. The Colts will win their second consecutive AFC East title if they beat Minnesota and the Jets and Dolphins lose.

Indianapolis, shut out in the first half of its previous three road games, raced to a 17-3 halftime lead. Manning benefited from excellent protection and completed 21 of 28 passes. He threw mostly short but went deep for a 50-yard touchdown to Marcus Pollard on the Colts’ first possession. Manning also scored on a four-yard keeper.

On the final play of the first half, Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 48-yard field goal, his longest of the season, and he added a 31-yarder in the third quarter.

The Dolphins closed to 20-13 on Olindo Mare’s 31-yard field goal with 3:25 to play, then forced a punt a minute later. But Jay Fiedler’s third-down pass was intercepted by Jeff Burris, and when the Dolphins got the ball back in the final seconds, time ran out with the ball at their 40.