Unbeaten Colts Land A Big Fish
Jim Harbaugh saved the Indianapolis Colts’ fourth straight victory, a 10-6 decision over Miami on Monday night, by remembering the tricks he learned as a high school wrestler.
In a game that saw Miami quarterback Dan Marino and Indianapolis linebackers Stephen Grant and Quentin Coryatt drop out with early injuries, Harbaugh was the hero by diving into a pile to recover a fumble it appeared the Colts had lost in their own territory with 10 minutes left. i
“I used to be a high school wrestler. I never was any good, but this made up for it,” Harbaugh said.
“He goes after the football. Jim’s a football player,” said defensive tackle Tony Siragusa, part of a unit that held Miami, averaging 156 yards rushing entering the game, to just 28.
“You get quarterbacks making all the money, but when everybody hits the field, you play football. If the ball’s there, go after it. You fight for it and that’s how you play,” said Siragusa.
Harbaugh’s 1-yard TD toss to Ken Dilger at the end of a 97-yard drive that spanned nearly 8 minutes of the first and second quarters, was the game’s only touchdown as the Colts handed Jimmy Johnson his first loss as the Dolphins’ coach.
It came after Miami had taken a 3-0 lead on a drive in which Marino turned his ankle without being hit on a 34-yard pass to O.J. McDuffie.
But just as important was Harbaugh’s dive into a pile of Miami defenders at his own 39 to grab a fumble by teammate Clif Groce. The officials ruled Harbaugh and Miami’s Chris Singleton had simultaneous possession, giving the ball back to the Colts. Harbaugh trotted off, resting for a play.
“I thought right off the bat that we had the football,” Johnson said.
“Harbaugh had his hand in there. And the official patted Chris on the back and said ‘OK get on up.’ When he got up, he let the ball go. The official said it was a tie. The tie went to the offense.”
Harbaugh said: “We were just wrestling for it. I was holding on and I wasn’t going to let go.”
Otherwise, it was a day for the Indianapolis defense as the Colts (4-0) took over first place in the AFC East with Miami (3-1) and Buffalo each a game behind.
Despite losing Coryatt and Grant because of pulled muscles on Miami’s first possession, the Colts sacked Marino’s replacement, Bernie Kosar, four times.
“From where I was standing, they were flying around all day,” Colts coach Lindy Infante said.
The Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers are the NFL’s only unbeaten teams.
Marino sprained his ankle on Miami’s first possession, which ended in a 24-yard Joe Nedney field goal. X-rays showed a sprain and he’ll have a bye week to rest.