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Associated PressCOLTS 23, DOLPHINS 17: "Maybe we should cancel the rest of our home games," miffed defensive end Jason Taylor says.
MIAMI - Peyton Manning had clutch completions, Edgerrin James found running room, and Mike Vanderjagt remained perfect.
With the game on the line, however, it was Dwight Freeney who saved the day for the Colts.
The speedy defensive end forced a fumble by sacking Brian Griese with two minutes left Sunday, and Indianapolis stopped Miami's comeback bid to win 23-17.
Manning threw for 266 yards and survived a potentially damaging interception in the closing moments, thanks to Freeney's clinching hit.
"He can be a difference-maker," Manning said. "That was the biggest play of the game."
Working against rookie tackle Wade Smith, Freeney had two other sacks and also forced a Griese fumble that led to a first-half field goal. The Colts limited Ricky Williams to 36 yards rushing, allowing the Colts to control the ball for nearly 38 minutes.
"The biggest problem we had was with Freeney," Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said. "That was probably the most dominant defensive performance we've seen in a long time. We couldn't handle him."
The Colts (7-1) matched their best start since 1977. Only Kansas City (8-0) has a better record.
"It's a great achievement," coach Tony Dungy said. "One thing I like about this team is that we can win a lot of ways."
The Dolphins have lost three times, all at home and in the AFC.
"Maybe we should cancel the rest of our home games," defensive end Jason Taylor said. "We're sitting in the middle of the pack, or maybe the back of the pack. That's not the situation you want to be in."
The Dolphins had won four consecutive times in the series but the ball literally bounced the Colts' way for a change, with a fluke completion helping them take the lead for good.
Vanderjagt kicked field goals of 50, 44 and 25 yards. He's 21-for-21 this season and has made his past 25 attempts dating to last season.
James ran 26 times for 89 yards and a touchdown. Manning went 23-for-37, including a 3-yard score to Troy Walters, and the Colts had five sacks.
Miami almost won anyway. With the help of two turnovers, the Dolphins tried to rally from a 23-14 deficit in the final four minutes.
After Olindo Mare's 23-yard field goal trimmed the margin to six, Terrell Buckley intercepted Manning by stepping in front of a short pass intended for Reggie Wayne, giving the Dolphins the ball at the Colts 15 with 2:45 left.
Freeney and the Indianapolis defense dug in.
"Last year we'd get down, and we'd get crushed by that," Freeney said. "We would fall and fall. Today it seemed like those things were happening again. You have to make a play."
He did. On second down, Griese rolled right, was hit from behind by Freeney and fumbled. Indianapolis defensive end Raheem Brock recovered.
The Colts had a bit of luck in the second quarter. A pass by Manning slipped through the hands of Marvin Harrison to teammate Marcus Pollard for a 51-yard gain, setting up a field goal at the end of the first half.
Harrison also later lost a fumble but was sure-handed on a flea-flicker, curling back to catch an underthrown pass for a 30-yard gain in the third quarter. That led to James' 1-yard touchdown run for a 16-7 Colts lead.
Griese, who has had consecutive starts with Jay Fiedler sidelined by a sprained knee, went 18-for-29 for 231 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown to Chris Chambers.