Miami's Monday Melee

There is some incredible football being played in Miami. Unfortunately for fans of the Sunshine State, the best football is being produced at the University of Miami. While the college game is thriving down south, the professional home team is struggling to get their first win. The Dolphins dropped their second game in a row Monday, losing to the visiting Indianapolis Colts, 27-23. The road victory for the Colts was impressive considering Indianapolis held the ball for just 14 minutes and 53 seconds. The Colts’ time of possession was the lowest by any winning NFL team since 1977. Indy quarterback, Peyton Manning, staged another one of his numerous comebacks by hitting second year receiver, Pierre Garcon with 3:18 ticks remaining in the game. Manning spoiled the fun for the Miami home opener a night after his younger brother, Eli, rallied to beat the Dallas Cowboys in Texas.
Manning showed supreme confidence and created opportunities for the Colts late in the game. The veteran signal-caller gave his team a chance to win, finishing 14 for 23 and throwing over 300 yards in limited time. The 2-0 Colts scored promptly on their first possession amid an electric atmosphere in Land Shark Stadium. Manning found Dallas Clark wide open on a one-play 80 yard touchdown reception 12 seconds into Monday night’s melee. The Dolphins scored in first quarter on a Ronnie Brown 14 yard run to even the score at 7-7. Brown and Ricky Williams effectively executed the wildcat offense. Together, they rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Williams craftily carried the ball 19 times. Miami outrushed the Colts and completed close to double the first downs, but was still unable to pull together a win. Fins quarterback, Chad Pennington, is prone to some inconsistent passing. The lopsided time of possession was not an advantage for Chad. Pennington did not have a touchdown pass, but was charged with one interception on 183 yards through the air. Miami’s leading receiver, Ted Ginn, Jr, dropped two vital passes in the endzone that could have made the difference last night. Pennington overthrew Ginn on the most important plays, but still managed to complete 11 passes to the former Ohio State receiver.
The Dolphins beating the Colts was imperative, but Manning is Mr. Clutch. Manning earned a record 119 wins with the Colts to break the team record for quarterback. Manning took only three snaps in the third quarter and his team held the ball only three times after halftime. Superbowl star, Adam Vinatieri, footed two field goals in the second quarter (43 and 48 yards) and Dan Carpenter ran for two touchdowns for Miami to keep the teams notched at 13 at the half. Neither team executed in the third quarter but Miami went ahead early in the fourth on a 13 play, 80 yard scoring drive. Brown squirted into the endzone on a three yard burst to give the Dolphins their third lead of the day, 20-13. University of Connecticut tailback, Donald Brown and the Colts responded with ten minutes left. Brown scored on a six yard run to tie the score for the fourth time of the night. The Dolphins fell short of finding the endzone and had to settle for three points on Dan Carpenter’s 45 yard field goal with just over three minutes left in regulation. Miami converted three third downs before the field goal, including a 21 yard pass to Ginn on 3rd and 7 at the Miami 45 yard line.
The stage was set for a Colts comeback as Carpenter kicked to the Colts’ Chad Simpson. Manning was on the field for only 4:47 of the second half when the Colts began their game-winning drive with 3:44 remaining. Reggie Wayne snagged a 15 yard pass on first down and Clark followed with a 17 yard reception to pit the Colts on the Miami 48 yard line. Manning threw an incompletion to Garcon on 1st and ten before he nailed him on the very next play for what would be the winning 48-yard touchdown. Pennington was intercepted on the final play of the game, and the Dolphins’ last ditch attempt to squeeze out a late win. It was another forgettable loss and miserable Monday in Miami as Manning motioned meticulously as an exhilarating one-man wrecking machine. The Dolphins may have had the ball more often, but it was the Colts from Indianapolis that were more efficient.

Parting points: Song of the day: “Nice to Know You” by Incubus
“Good health is the most important thing. More than success, more than money, more than power.”—Hyman Roth