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A time of possession of less than fifteen minutes typically doesn’t win football games, but don’t tell that to the Indianapolis Colts, who defeated the Miami Dolphins despite holding the ball for just 14:53. It was the first game since time of possession was tracked (mid 1970s) in which a team won with less than 15 minutes of possession.

Peyton Manning earned his 119th career victory as quarterback for the Colts, breaking Johnny Unitas’ team record. Manning completed 14 of 23 passes for 303 yards, throwing two touchdown strikes. His first touchdown strike of the game occurred on the first play from scrimmage: an 80-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Clark. It was the first time a team found the endzone from 80 or more yards out on the first play from scrimmage since November 18, 2001; strangely enough, the Indianapolis Colts did it when Manning connected with Marcus Pollard on an 86-yard bomb.

Miami’s Ronnie Brown carried the ball 24 times for 136 yards, finding the endzone twice. Overall, the Dolphins rushed for 239 yards, their most since the 2002 season.

Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington was 22-of-33 passing for 183 yards, throwing one pass to Indianapolis’ Antoine Bethea.

Miami took the lead four times during the entire course of the game. A Dan Carpenter 45-yard field goal gave the Dolphins a 10-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter. Carpenter connected again from 44 yards out to give Miami a 13-10 lead late in the 2nd quarter. Ronnie Brown’s three-yard touchdown run gave the Dolphins a 20-13 lead early in the 4th quarter. Dan Carpenter’s second 45-yarder of the game gave Miami a 23-20 lead with 3:50 left in regulation.

However, in the end, it was Peyton who prevailed. His 48-yard strike to Pierre Garcon with 3:18 left on the clock gave the Colts a 27-23 lead.

“Pierre was patient,” said Manning. “He was more talkative than he had been all game, saying, ‘I can beat him. I can beat him.’ Of course we didn’t get many possessions, but he came up big when we really needed him.”

Miami had one final shot to beat Indianapolis, but Chad Pennington’s last pass of the game fell into the hands of Antoine Bethea.

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