Colts vs. Dolphins: Full Miami Game Preview

The 5-9 Miami Dolphins looked like a team waiting to just end their season last week against the San Diego Chargers. 

They still have two more games left to play before that could happen, though, as the 6-8 Indianapolis Colts are coming to down. 

The Colts are one game behind the Houston Texans in the AFC South, so despite current injury-depleted status, they still have something to play for. 

The Dolphins, who are also riddled by injuries, have nothing but pride to play for, which was such a tremendous motivation last week. 

Here's a preview of a matchup between two former division rivals. 

Location: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Week 15 Results and Recap

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The Dolphins lost not just a game on Sunday to the Chargers, but they also lost some key players due to injury along the offensive line. For the final quarter Miami was playing with an offensive line composed of two non-starters at tackle, a center who had only played two previous games at the position, Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner. 

The game was missing effort from Miami's side, while the Chargers approached the game like a playoff contest, knowing that it could be their final game in San Diego. 

Thanks to the Dolphins' ineptitude and passionless play, the Chargers were able to say goodbye to their San Diego fans in style, assuming it's the last time they play in front of them. 

Next up is a Colts team with more to play for, while the Dolphins can only continue to play out the string. 

AFC East Standings

1. y-New England Patriots 12-2
2. New York Jets 9-5
3. Buffalo Bills 6-8
4. Miami Dolphins 5-9

News and Notes

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Pouncey Gets Pro Bowl Nod, Reshad Jones Snubbed

The biggest Dolphins story of the week came with the announcement of who's going to the Pro Bowl. 

The offense has one player headed to Hawaii, and that's center Mike Pouncey, who is going to the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive year. 

Pouncey is not just the only offensive player Pro Bowl-bound, he's the only player selected from Miami. 

Snubbed was Reshad Jones, despite the fact that he has arguably been the best strong safety in the NFL this season. 

Pouncey shares this opinion, per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald:

"

I feel so bad for Reshad. I know he’s the best safety in the NFL. Him not making it is very disappointing. [When I spoke with him] … I told him I wish I could give him my Pro Bowl nod. He’s an impact player on the football team. He’s really grown as a football player, and I’m really sad he didn’t make it.

"

Jones could still go to the Pro Bowl as an alternate, with Ndamukong Suh also named as an alternate. 

Koa Misi, Chris McCain Out for the Season

The Dolphins are limping to the finish line in 2015, and it's shockingly affecting the positions with the least amount of talent and depth. 

Add linebacker to that, as Beasley reports that Chris McCain and Koa Misi are out for the rest of the season. 

Misi's injury is his back, which was injured against the Chargers, while McCain hurt his knee. 

Playing in Misi's place will likely be Spencer Paysinger or Neville Hewitt. McCain is more of a special teams ace and situational pass-rusher, so various players will likely replace him. 

Draft-Pick Watch

With the Dolphins out of the playoffs, it's time to think draft, specifically where Miami will pick. 

The Dolphins are slotted as the seventh pick in the 2016 NFL draft, per CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler. 

There's still a small chance that the Dolphins get the first overall pick, though, but it will take a lot of help. 

First off, the Dolphins have to lose their final two games, but after that, they'll need a lot of help. 

Cleveland and Tennessee will have to win their final two games, while San Diego, San Francisco, Baltimore and Dallas have to win at least one of their final two games. 

If all of that happens, Miami gets the top overall pick due to having the one of the weakest schedules in the NFL (Miami's opponents are at .449). 

If Cleveland, Tennessee or both lose, Miami will be eliminated from getting the top pick; however, the third pick will certainly be up for grabs after this week, provided the Dolphins lose Sunday. 

Not that I'm advocating the Dolphins losing or any sort of thing. 

Injury Report

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

• C Mike Pouncey
• LT Branden Albert
• RT Ja'Wuan James

According to Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel, there's a possibility that Dallas Thomas is the only Dolphins offensive line starter who will be healthy against the Colts. 

Mike Pouncey re-aggravated a foot injury against the Chargers that saw him leave the game on a cart. Interim head coach Dan Campbell said he doesn't expect Pouncey to play, but Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post points out the coach didn't expect him to play after the Jets game either. 

Per Kelly, Pouncey does expect to play, not only against the Colts but against the Patriots and in the Pro Bowl as well. 

It would be better for him to miss those two regular-season games as well, but if he wants to play, it will be difficult to get him off the field. 

As for Albert, he was given Wednesday off; however, he expects to be back at practice Thursday, indicating his plans to play Sunday, per Kelly. 

Then there's Ja'Wuan James, who has missed the last seven games after suffering an injury against New England. He's working his way back with a goal towards playing the final two games of the season, with Campbell saying, per Kelly: "We're going to keep bringing him along and see how he is. He finally worked in a practice today. It was really in a scout team role and certainly looked better than last week."

We'll know more as the week goes on about James. 

WR Rishard Matthews

Miami's wide receiver unit might get a bit stronger this week, but whether that makes a difference is unlikely to be seen. 

Per the team's injury report, Rishard Matthews practiced in full Wednesday. 

This could mean that Matthews, who has missed the last three games, might be ready to come back, which is surprising considering he has had a good season and is a free agent-to-be; it might not be prudent for him to come back and risk an injury in otherwise meaningless games. 

Key Matchups

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Colts WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Dolphins CB Brice McCain

The marquee wide receiver versus cornerback matchup would be Andre Johnson vs. Brent Grimes, but what decides the game will be Brice McCain's matchup with T.Y. Hilton. 

Dolphins fans everywhere should be scared about this matchup, regardless of the Colts' starting quarterback—whether it's Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst or even punter Pat McAfee. 

Hilton has 61 catches for 1,016 yards and five touchdowns this season and could be primed for more against McCain. 

Colts DE Kendall Langford vs. Dolphins RT Ja'Wuan James/Jason Fox/Ulrick John

We don't know who Miami's starting right tackle will be Sunday. 

As mentioned in the injury report on the last slide, Ja'Wuan James is looking to come back, but if he doesn't, it could set up either Jason Fox or even Ulrick John having to hold back a former Dolphin in Kendall Langford. 

Langford has been solid this season with 31 tackles and four sacks. Keeping him locked up and protecting Ryan Tannehill are key to Miami's offensive success. 

X-Factors

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Miami Dolphins X-Factor: Jay Ajayi

I don't expect Lamar Miller to get a lot of carries Sunday. 

Not only do the Dolphins seem intent on limiting his carries, but they have the nice little "groin injury" as an excuse, per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. 

With that in mind, we do know that when the Dolphins run the ball, they play well, and Jay Ajayi ran the ball well against the Chargers in limited carries. 

Giving Ajayi more carries Sunday would help with his development, and the coaching staff should consider that game plan. 

Indianapolis Colts X-Factor: Coby Fleener

When a backup quarterback is in, a tight end can be a best friend even when there are other weapons around. 

Coby Fleener can be that best friend for Matt Hasselbeck (or Charlie Whitehurst), and so far he has been decent in that role with 45 catches for 390 yards and two touchdowns. 

Fleener could tear apart a weak and shallow Dolphins linebacking corps and will be more dangerous than you think come Sunday. 

Prediction

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There aren't many teams the Dolphins are better than. 

The Colts are one of those teams, and thanks to the NFL's divisional placement (and with some help ironically from the Dolphins), the Colts are only one game out of the AFC South race. 

So this means Indianapolis has plenty to play for, while the Dolphins don't, but it's not that simple. 

Miami, which is still playing for pride in front of a home crowd (a small one considering the way the season has gone) should be fired up. 

The Colts, who are banged up and facing as much uncertainty about the future as the Dolphins regardless of what happens, may only be one game behind Houston but could also find themselves eliminated this weekend. 

If you want the Dolphins to get a top-three or even top-five draft pick, you won't like the results of this game, at least the way I'm predicting it. 

Prediction: Dolphins 13, Colts 10

Statistics provided by NFL.com.