Why to watch:
This should be the game of the year in the highly competitive AFC East. And it's a rematch of one of the season's most thrilling games, Miami's 34-31 victory at Indianapolis in Week 5. You might remember that first meeting was decided on a controversial call in the final minutes, when Dan Marino's apparent fumble was ruled an incomplete pass, keeping alive the Dolphins' dramatic game-winning drive.

The Colts haven't lost since that Oct. 10 setback, winning seven consecutive games to grab a one-game lead in the divisional race. With a victory here, the young Colts could take a huge step toward the franchise's first division title since the strike-shortened season of 1987.

The trio of QB Peyton Manning, RB Edgerrin James and WR Marvin Harrison has helped Indianapolis score at least 25 points in nine of its 11 games. Watching that explosive trio take on a Miami defense that has been dominant at home should be worth the price of admission.

As for the Dolphins, they will have had a full 10 days to stew over that 20-0 loss at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. Veteran QB Dan Marino threw five interceptions and didn't look 100 percent in his return to the lineup after a five-game absence.

Marino has a history of bouncing back from poor performances with big games, so Jimmy Johnson is surely counting on his quarterback to rebound this week. In fact, Johnson will recall how Marino threw for 393 yards in the first meeting with Indianapolis -- a performance that came on the heels of Johnson publicly questioning Marino after a three-turnover performance in a loss to the Bills.

If the Dolphins can rebound here, the AFC East race will be wide-open again and might just go down to the final weekend. If the Colts keep rolling, this young squad will have the type of confidence that could make it very, very dangerous.

Who to watch:
Harrison will be matched up with Dolphins CB Sam Madison in a battle of two of the NFL's best at their positions. Harrison had three catches for 91 yards, including a 33-yard TD grab, in the first meeting. On the other side, Patrick Surtain is expected to replace Terrell Buckley at the left cornerback spot. Colts WR Terrence Wilkins will be sure to test the new man in the Dolphins' starting lineup.

	INJURY REPORT
	Colts: Dolphins: OUT: RB Cecil Collins (leg). QUESTIONABLE: T James Brown (ankle); WR O.J. McDuffie (toe). PROBABLE: LB Dwight Hollier (hamstring); QB Damon Huard (ankle); S Calvin Jackson (hamstring); CB Sam Madison (knee); QB Dan Marino (cervical nerve root); WR Tony Martin (groin).

James, who leads the AFC with 1,076 rushing yards and trails Washington's Stephen Davis by just 19 yards for the NFL lead, will challenge a Miami defense that is allowing just 92.7 yards per game on the ground. Manning was held to less than 200 passing yards last week for the first time this season. The second-year QB has thrown at least one TD pass in 24 consecutive games.

The Dolphins will run the ball early and often -- most likely at the left side of the Colts' defensive line, where DE Bernard Whittington and DT Larry Chester are both playing new spots. Dolphins rookie RB J.J. Johnson has rushed for 219 yards and one TD in his three games as the team's featured back.

The real player to watch, however, is Marino. If he can duplicate his first performance against Indy, Miami will be in great shape. If he looks as rusty as he did last week in Dallas, it's possible that pinched nerve in his neck is still bothering him.

Speedy Dolphins WR Tony Martin burned the Colts secondary for 10 catches for 166 yards and a TD in the first meeting. Dolphins WR Oronde Gadsden also had a big game with four catches for 123 yards. Martin, Gadsden and fellow WR O.J. McDuffie will provide a crucial test for Colts CBs Tyrone Poole and Jeff Burris.

Colts' numbers to know:
In his last six games, James has rushed for 719 yards and five TDs and caught 36 passes for 407 yards and two TDs.

Dolphins' numbers to know:
Marino has thrown for 7,224 yards, 51 TD passes and only 16 interceptions in his 32 career meetings with the Colts.

What it means:
Well, it means everything to the AFC East race. If the Colts win, they'll have a two-game edge over Miami and Buffalo with just four weeks remaining. The way Indianapolis has played the last seven weeks, that would just about put the division crown in the bag.

However, if the Dolphins win, they will move into a first-place tie and own the head-to-head tiebreaker with Indy based on their sweep of the season series. A Miami win would also put the Bills right back in the title race.

The winner here also will gain a key confidence boost. Miami could really use it after a demoralizing loss in Dallas, while the Colts can verify their status as a legitimate Super Bowl contender with a victory.

Sean Salisbury's breakdown
Colts' game plan:
Teams that try to run on the perimeter against the Dolphins are making a big mistake. The Colts are the exception, the one team that can challenge Miami on the edges. With James, the Colts have the threat of him releasing out of the backfield, and giving them speed and explosiveness on the perimeter. The Miami defense focuses on pressure. But when a team pressures, it must keep containment. If James breaks the containment, he will kill the Dolphins.

The Colts' game plan is to establish James, getting the ball to him as many times as possible. They will use a variety of formations and motions to force Miami to spread out and play linebackers outside the box. James could line up as a receiver, giving the Colts a mismatch against a linebacker. The matchup of Harrison against Madison is a great one, two good technicians on both sides of the ball.

The Colts will take their shots downfield to Harrison because he will face a lot of man-to-man coverage while the Miami defense tries to defend the run. Manning is one of the best play-action quarterbacks in the league, and he should find nice play-action opportunities against the Dolphins.

Dolphins' game plan:
Coming off a five-interception performance, Marino must get started quickly in this game. He is one of the best comeback quarterbacks ever, but the Dolphins will have a lot of trouble chasing the Colts down. Miami can't get down 17-0 and be forced to push the ball down the field. The Dolphins must run the ball against a Colts defense that doesn't have much depth.

The key for Miami is winning time of possession. If the Dolphins can control the clock, they won't have to throw on every down. They will try to control the ball running Johnson and methodically beat the Colts instead of relying on huge plays. They don't want to give Manning the ball too often. Manning studies defensive tendencies and doesn't get beat very often. The Miami defense must blitz and pressure Manning, but be cautious because the Colts have two big weapons in James and Harrison who can kill them.

Pivotal Players:
Miami's running backs. Whether it's Johnson or Rob Konrad, their ability to gain yards on first down will be important so the Dolphins can possess the ball and the clock. They need to give Marino something to work with instead of third-and-long situations.