MIAMI -- While addressing the media on Christmas, Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt wore a Harley-Davidson shirt. It was fitting. The coach recognizes Saturday's game against the Colts could be a rough ride.

"The good thing, obviously, is we have played them twice in the last four weeks," Wannstedt said. "We know their strengths; we know their weaknesses.

"The negative now is they are probably the hottest team in the NFL. They are playing with an awful lot of confidence, and they've got an awful lot of talent."

As Wannstedt noted, the defense's improved play propelled the Colts to three straight wins and the playoffs. Saturday, that defense will play an offense that also has confidence. Wannstedt was elated with the unit's play in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 27-24 win against the Patriots, in particular quarterback Jay Fiedler.

"It was the first time where he's been in the situation where he's really brought us from behind," Wannstedt said. "He made good decisions, he made good throws, and he made a couple of plays with his feet."

MORE DOLPHINS: Apparently, Sunday's bizarre ending nearly didn't happen.

Referee Johnny Grier made a mistake on the Patriots' final play. The referee told Wannstedt that his players, many already in the shower, would have to return to the field. The coach balked, then talked the referee out of it.

Only when orders came from Jerry Seeman, the NFL's senior director of officiating, in Minnesota did Wannstedt return his team to the field, 35 minutes after the game apparently had ended.

COLTS: Cornelius Bennett is in the playoffs for the 10th time in 14 years, having helped Indianapolis complete a dramatic turnaround.

At 35, Bennett admits he has lost some of the quickness that has sent him to the Pro Bowl five times. Still, he is not ready to quit after 206 games that have produced 71 1/2 sacks among more than 1,300 tackles.

"Of course, I've slowed some, but I've made up for it in wiseness," he said.

He is the only player to have been on five losing Super Bowl teams, and he cherishing another opportunity to make the league championship game. "I told you guys in training camp, I saw something special. I'm not a psychic or anything like that, but I saw the potential, and we had to find it the tough way," he said.

RAVENS: The defense sat in a Baltimore hotel Saturday night and seethed as Jets coach Al Groh delivered a mocking taunt on videotape. In calculated words from a news conference Wednesday, Groh sarcastically suggested the Jets had no chance against Baltimore's dominating defense.

The rebuttal featured six turnovers and three goal-line stands in a 34-20 victory.

"Tell Al Groh his third-grade reverse psychology didn't work," defensive end Rob Burnett said. "Not to disrespect the Jets players, but Al Groh was the one who fueled the fire this week. He didn't believe, but he believes now."

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