INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts (5-5) host Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins (5-5) at Lucas Oil Stadium this Sunday as both teams battle to stay in the playoff race.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Sunday, Nov. 25 at 4:25 p.m. ET
- Indianapolis; Lucas Oil Stadium
- TV: CBS — Greg Gumbel (play-by-play), Trent Green and Bruce Arians (analysts) and Melanie Collins (sideline)
- To find out what games will be on in your area, check here
- Radio: WFNI "1070 The Fan" and WLHK "HANK FM" — Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Jim Sorgi (color) and Barry Krauss (sideline) | Sports USA — Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play) and Mark Carrier (color)
ALL-TIME SERIES
- Dolphins lead, 45-26 (2-0 in the playoffs). The Colts are 1-1 against the Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts have won five of the last six dating back to 2003.
- Last game — Week 16 of 2015. The Colts won, 18-12.
COACHING STAFF
Colts:
- HC Frank Reich
- OC Nick Sirianni
- DC Matt Eberflus
- STC Bubba Ventrone
Dolphins:
- HC Adam Gase
- OC Dowell Loggains
- DC Matt Burke
- STC Darren Rizzi
LAST WEEK
Colts:
- Won vs. Tennessee Titans (5-5), 38-10
Dolphins:
- BYE (Lost in Week 10 @ Green Bay Packers [4-5-1], 31-12)
INJURY UPDATE
Colts:
- TE Mo Alie-Cox (calf): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Thursday, did not practice Friday
- TE Ryan Hewitt (ankle): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- C Ryan Kelly (knee): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- TE Erik Swoope (knee): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Dolphins:
- WR Danny Amendola (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- TE A.J. Derby (foot/knee): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- DT Davon Godchaux (shin): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Friday
- WR Jakeem Grant (Achilles): OUT — Did not practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- OT Ja'Wuan James (knee): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- OG Ted Larsen (neck): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- S T.J. McDonald (knee): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, full participant Friday
- WR DeVante Parker (shoulder): QUESTIONABLE — Limited participant Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
STORYLINES/THINGS TO WATCH
- Success On The Ground, Play-Action For The Colts? — The Dolphins rank near the bottom of the league in several run defense categories, including overall run defense (142.0 YPG), carries per game (29.3), yards per carry (4.8) and runs of 20-plus yards (12) and 40-plus yards allowed (3). The Colts should be able to establish the run with Marlon Mack & Co. With that, it could then set up the play-action passing game for quarterback Andrew Luck, as Miami also ranks poorly in sacks (17), yards per attempt (8.1) and 40-yard pass plays allowed (9).
- Whose Turn Is It This Week? — The Colts' offense is very multiple in that it can succeed in several different areas, whether it's the run game, a chain-movement passing game with the tight ends and running backs or a wide-open attack with the receivers. It's been the tight ends' turn seemingly every week except for last week, so they tend to perform well no matter what. We've also seen a few really big rushing performances. Last week, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton gashed the Titans for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns. What will unfold against the Dolphins?
- Ryan Tannehill's Performance — Tannehill missed Miami's last five games with an injury to his throwing shoulder. With his return this week, he will not have injured receivers Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant at his disposal. How Tannehill is able to acclimate in his return is worth keeping an eye on.
- Another Swarming Colts Defensive Performance? — Last week, the Colts held the Titans to three points throughout most of the game before the visitors scored their lone touchdown with just under two minutes remaining. Overall, the Colts held the Titans to just 263 yards of offense, they sacked them five times and turned them over twice. Will the Colts' defense come with that same swarming mentality against the Dolphins on Sunday?
- Frank Gore Returns — The future Hall of Fame running back spent three years with the Colts up until this offseason, signing with his hometown Dolphins as a free agent. Gore still has several former teammates on the Colts who look forward to seeing him for the first time since he departed Indianapolis.
INTRIGUING MATCHUPS
- Colts WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Dolphins CB Xavien Howard — Hilton had his biggest performance of the season last week, and now he becomes the assignment of a budding young corner in Miami's Howard.
- Colts C Evan Boehm vs. Dolphins DTs Davon Godchaux/Akeem Spence — Colts center Ryan Kelly suffered a knee injury against Tennessee and is out this week. Starting in his place is Boehm, who will be tasked with keeping Miami defensive tackles Godchaux (questionable) and Spence at bay.
- Colts RT Braden Smith vs. Dolphins DE Cameron Wake — This will be one of Smith's biggest challenges to date, as Wake is third in career sacks among active players with 95.5. He currently has 3.5 this season including 2.5 in the last two games.
- Colts DE Tyquan Lewis/Kemoko Turay vs. Dolphins LT Laremy Tunsil — Tunsil wasn't able to play in Week 10 due to injury, but he's been able to practice this week. If he is back for Sunday, he'll be going against a couple of impressive young pass rushers for the Colts in Lewis and Turay.
- Colts CB Kenny Moore II vs. Dolphins WR Kenny Stills — Without Wilson and Grant — and perhaps Parker — Stills likely becomes the focal point of Miami's passing game, especially if Parker is unable to go. Stills moves both inside and out, as does Moore, so we may see them matched up with each other quite a bit.
REFEREE ASSIGNMENT
- Head referee: Clete Blakeman (11 years). Click here to see all referee assignments for Week 12.
LEADERS
Colts:
- Passing — QB Andrew Luck (2,769 yards)
- Rushing — RB Marlon Mack (471 yards)
- Receiving — WR T.Y. Hilton (585 yards)
- Touchdowns — TE Eric Ebron (10)
- Tackles — LB Darius Leonard (104)
- Sacks — DE Jabaal Sheard (5.5)
- Interceptions — CB Kenny Moore II (2)
Dolphins:
- Passing — QB Brock Osweiler (1,247 yards)
- Rushing — RB Frank Gore (528 yards)
- Receiving — WR Danny Amendola (456 yards)
- Touchdowns — RB Kenyan Drake (5)
- Tackles — LB Kiko Alonso (89)
- Sacks — DE Cameron Wake (3.5)
- Interceptions — LB Kiko Alonso, CB Xavien Howard, S T.J. McDonald (3)
COMPARING 2018 STATS
Colts:
- Total offense — 9th (381.5 YPG)
- Scoring offense — 5th (29.8 PPG)
- Passing offense — 10th (269.1 YPG)
- Running offense — 14th (112.4 YPG)
- Third down offense — 1st (52%)
- Red zone offense — 8th (68.3%)
- Total defense — 20th (364.9 YPG)
- Scoring defense — 18th (24.9 PPG)
- Passing defense — 23rd (259.2 YPG)
- Sacks — Tied for 16th (26)
- Running defense — 14th (105.7 YPG)
- Third down defense — 27th (44%)
- Red zone defense — 9th (53.3%)
- Time of possession — 26th (29:03)
- Turnover differential — 7th (+5)
Dolphins:
- Total offense — 28th (313.6 YPG)
- Scoring offense — 27th (19.9 PPG)
- Passing offense — 26th (207.7 YPG)
- Running offense — 21st (105.9 YPG)
- Third down offense — 28th (33%)
- Red zone offense — 32nd (40.0%)
- Total defense — 27th (392.3 YPG)
- Scoring defense — 22nd (25.6 PPG)
- Passing defense — 19th (250.3 YPG)
- Sacks — 29th (17)
- Running defense — 30th (142.0 YPG)
- Third down defense — 24th (42%)
- Red zone defense — 15th (57.1%)
- Time of possession — 28th (28:48)
- Turnover differential — 10th (+4)
NOTES AND QUOTES
- This week, the Colts made the following moves: Elevated RB Jonathan Williams to the active roster from the practice squad, signed C Josh Andrews off the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad, signed TE Je'Ron Hamm to the practice squad, waived CB Arthur Maulet and placed CB D.J. Killings on the injured reserve list.
- The Colts will be sporting their all-blue Color Rush uniforms on Sunday. They wore these uniforms in Week 15 last year against the Denver Broncos.
- Luck needs one 300-yard passing game to pass Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford and Kurt Warner for the second-most such games in a player's first seven seasons in NFL history. Luck also needs one passing touchdown to pass Jim Kelly (161) for the eighth-most touchdown passes in a player's first seven seasons in NFL history and three passing touchdowns to pass Stafford (163) for seventh. With at least three touchdown passes, Luck will tie Manning (eight) for the most consecutive games with at least three touchdown passes in franchise history. Manning currently ranks second in NFL history. Luck needs one rushing touchdown to pass Bert Jones (14) for the second-most rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks in franchise history.
- Hilton needs one 150-yard game to pass Marvin Harrison (11) for the most such games in franchise history. Hilton also needs one receiving touchdown to pass Jim Mutscheller (40) for the seventh-most receiving touchdowns in franchise history.
- Tight end Jack Doyle needs 75 receiving yards to pass Tom Mitchell (1,786) for seventh in franchise history among tight ends.
- Kicker Adam Vinatieri needs three made field goals from 40-49 yards to pass Gary Anderson (161) for the most field goals from that distance in NFL history. With one made field goal from 50 yards, Vinatieri will tie Phil Dawson and John Kasay (42) for the fourth-most 50-yard field goals in NFL history.
- Colts quarterback Andrew Luck on Gore: "Frank was the best type of teammate that you could ask for. It will be really fun to see him. I won't be rooting for him this week, but it will be fun to see him. He's just one of those personalities and one of those guys that you miss when he's not around. I'm sure everybody in this locker room that has played with him at some point probably says, 'Yeah, I miss being around Frank Gore every day.' He's got an infectious personality. He's a heck of a football player. I certainly wish him – I always wish him – the best success in whatever he does. He's an all-time great. He really is."
- Colts wide receiver Chester Rogers on Gore: "I'm excited to see Frank, man. He's somebody I got close to and learned a lot from. Just how to attack the game and be a pro each and every day. I cherish those moments, and like I said I'm excited to see him. I wish he was with us, but he's on the other side."
NEXT WEEK
Colts:
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) (away)
Dolphins:
- Buffalo Bills (3-7) (home)
