Manning's stellar day leads Colts past Dolphins

Jan 1, 2007, 1:20 GMT

Indianapolis, IN - Peyton Manning threw a pair of touchdown passes and also ran one in as the AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts finished up the regular season with a 27-22 win over the Miami Dolphins at the RCA Dome.

Manning ended 22-of-37 for 282 yards without an interception for the Colts (12-4), who are now locked into the No. 3 seed. By virtue of a Kansas City win and a surprising Denver loss to San Francisco, the Colts will host the Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs.

Marvin Harrison had five catches for 74 yards with a touchdown, and Reggie Wayne hauled in six balls for 70 yards in the victory.

'All you can really ask for is an opportunity,' said Manning of heading to the playoffs. 'I am excited about having a good week of practice. That is what we need to start with.'

Cleo Lemon got the nod and went 18-of-36 for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Miami (6-10), which failed to make a postseason appearance for the fifth consecutive year.

Ronnie Brown rushed the ball 21 times for 115 yards, while Randy McMichael caught four passes for 55 yards and a score.

'We ended up with a loss,' Lemon said. 'I felt like I did some good things personally out there, leadership wise, getting the plays going during the may day stuff as far as the two minutes. We got some things going.'

The Dolphins marched down the field on their opening possession and assumed a 3-0 edge on a 28-yard field goal by Olindo Mare.

The Colts, though, outscored Miami 17-3 in the second frame to assume a 17-6 advantage by intermission.

Following Mare's field goal, Indianapolis embarked on an 18-play, 80-yard marathon march that ate up 10:09 of game clock. A 12-yard reception by Wayne put the Colts on the doorstep, and Manning found Dan Klecko for a two-yard score moments later.

Mare sliced the deficit to one with a 38-yard field goal with 1:31 left in the second, but the Colts blew up for 10 points before the half to gain command.

With time running down, Manning dissected the Miami defense and used a 36-yard strike to Aaron Moorehead to move to the 11-yard line. On the next play, the signal-caller decided to run for it and was crashed into by a pair of defenders as he crossed the goal line for a touchdown with 19 ticks on the clock.

Lemon tried to make something happen on the ensuing possession but was intercepted by Cato June, setting up a 46-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal as time expired.

Mare got the Dolphins' second half started on the right foot with a 42-yard field goal, then after Vinatieri countered with a 34-yarder, split the uprights yet again -- this time from 27 yards out -- to make it 20-9.

Lemon kept the offense moving in the fourth, and Mare cashed in once more with a 34-yarder that moved the Dolphins within five.

Manning, though, hooked up with Harrison for a 27-yard TD with 10:07 remaining that pushed the lead to 27-15.

Lemon answered with a six-yard touchdown toss to McMichael with 3:11 on the clock, and got the ball back with 1:03 left and no timeouts. He moved his team into Indy territory, but his Hail Mary attempt sailed out of bounds as time expired.

Game Notes

With his first TD pass Sunday, Manning surpassed Joe Montana (273) for seventh all-time in touchdown tosses. Also, he finished with a 101 passer rating, marking the third consecutive time he has led the league in that department.

Miami owns a 44-23 advantage in its all-time regular season series against Indianapolis.

The Colts had lost four of six coming in.

Miami ended with four kick returns for 117 yards.

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