Colts Head to Miami With Momentum

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) â€” Officially, the NFL playoffs start Saturday. <br><br>For the Indianapolis Colts, they might as well have started three weeks ago. One loss over that span would have sent them home

Wednesday, December 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) â€” Officially, the NFL playoffs start Saturday.

For the Indianapolis Colts, they might as well have started three weeks ago. One loss over that span would have sent them home until next season.

But three straight victories, including a 31-10 season-ending win over Minnesota, clinched a wild-card spot and the AFC's No. 6 seed. Now the Colts head to Miami with momentum and rediscovered confidence.

``It's more important to be hot, and last year we weren't hot. Right now, we're on a little bit of a roll,'' quarterback Peyton Manning said. ``We have a lot of momentum. We've beaten three very good football teams in some tough situations.''

The Colts also beat Buffalo in a Monday Night game and then beat the Dolphins in Miami before their victory over the Vikings.

``They were all must-win situations,'' Manning said. ``I can only compare it to last year, when we didn't have a whole lot of momentum going into the playoffs.''

The Colts went 13-3 last year but lost their final regular-season game at Buffalo before a 19-16 loss to Tennessee in an AFC divisional game.

Tight end Marcus Pollard, one of six Colts with 40 or more receptions this season, agreed that it's a lot better to end the season with a victory.

``We kind of fizzled out toward the end,'' he said of last season. ``This year, we had to come in through the back door. A lot of people were kicking dirt on us, and weren't giving us a chance. Now there's a new chance. It seems like a lot better feeling.''

Although Indiana does not have a home-field advantage in the playoffs this year, their bid for the Super Bowl will begin in Miami's Pro Player Stadium, where they have beaten the Dolphins the past two times.

But Manning, the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in consecutive seasons, said it's harder to win on the road in the postseason.

``I don't know if comfortable is the word. The last time we played down there, it was extremely loud, as loud as I've heard in a long time,'' he said.

``It's going to be a tremendous atmosphere. I don't think it's going to be a situation of home or away. It's just making plays, or not making plays.''

The biggest difference has been the Colts defense. They've allowed only 43 points in the final three games, compared with 70 in the three-game losing streak that preceded it. Although the defense has been the strength of the Dolphins, running back Lamar Smith has run for 1,139 yards and 14 touchdowns.

``We just came off a big victory, and we've got to do it again,'' said defensive tackle Ellis Johnson. ``Our defense has been intense. We know they're going to try and pound the ball, but we're ready for that.''

Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said he hoped Miami snapped out of its funk with a 27-24 win against New England. The Dolphins had lost their previous two games.

``They've won three straight with their backs to the wall. They're the defending champs from a year ago. Our guys know that this will be a big challenge for us,'' Wannstedt said of the Colts. ``We know that they're capable of coming here in our backyard and winning the football game.''