|
 |
MANAGING MANNING: Dolphins Have Had Their Share Of Success Against Star Quarterback
By ALAIN POUPART
Dolphin Digest Associate Editor
The Dolphins stopped facing Indianapolis twice a year after the Colts moved to the AFC South Division in 2002, and we can't help but get the feeling that Peyton Manning didn't mind that at all.
Manning arguably is the best player in the NFL today and there's no question he's headed to the Hall of Fame after his career is over. But he definitely won't get there based on what he's done against the Dolphins.
On the contrary, the Dolphins have managed through the years to make Manning actually look rather ordinary.
The Dolphins have faced Manning 12 times during his glorious career - 11 in the regular season plus the memorable 2000 playoff game in Miami - and have compiled an 8-4 record against him.
In fact, there might not be a team that's given Manning a harder time.
Just check out a couple of telling numbers:
- Manning has faced 13 teams at least five times during his career; of those 13, he has thrown more inteceptions than touchdowns against only three. One of them is Miami, the others are Cleveland and San Diego.
- Manning has had 44 multi-interception games in his career. Guess which team ranks first on that list. Yep, the Dolphins with six.
- Manning's career passer rating is 94.7, but only 76.3 against the Dolphins.
- In this year's opener against Jacksonville, Manning recorded the 48th 300-yard passing day of his career. Of those, only one came against the Dolphins; by comparison, Manning has reached 300 yards against New England four times.
That one time Manning reached the 300-yard mark against the Dolphins was in his NFL debut in 1998 when he passed for 302 yards and one touchdown. But he also was picked off three times and sacked four times and the Dolphins left Indianapolis that day with a 24-15 victory.
And Manning's lowest-ever passer rating for a game? Yep, against the Dolphins also.
That happened the only time that Manning - before next Monday night - has come to Miami for a prime-time game.
The date was Dec. 10, 2001 and Manning that night was an atrocious 19-of-32 for a mere 173 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The Dolphins routed the Colts, 41-6. That game was the second-most lopsided defeat of Manning's career, topped only by a 44-6 loss to the Jets in his rookie season.
The Dolphins have faced Manning and the Colts only three times since the division realignment of 2002 and have continued their solid work stopping Indianapolis' devastating passing offense.
How have the Dolphins managed to keep Manning in check through the years?
Part of the success comes from the pressure the Dolphins have managed to get on Manning at times, something that's not easy to do given his quick release and his ability to freeze pass rushers with his ball fakes.
Jason Taylor has recorded five sacks against Manning during his career, and no doubt he'll be looking to add to that total on Monday night.
Another, perhaps bigger reason, would be the talent at cornerback the Dolphins had for so many years, namely Pro Bowl selections Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison, as well as Terrell Buckley.
Those two are long gone now, and in their places are veteran Will Allen and rookies Sean Smith and Vontae Davis. They no doubt will face a great challenge against the Colts passing game, although their task has been made easier by the fact Marvin Harrison no longer is lining up at wide receiver and his replacement in the starting lineup, Anthony Gonzalez, likely will miss the game because of a knee injury he sustained in last Sunday's opener.
Regardless of who is on the receiving end of Manning's passes, the challenge facing the Dolphins defense is no less imposing. At least they can take some comfort in the fact that, in this matchup, history is on their side.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
