Dungy’s Colts score often with a league-leading rusher, Edgerrin James, as well as an efficient passing game curtailed somewhat by a nearly season-long lineup of goofy defenses (like Baltimore’s two-lineman, nine-linebacker-and-defensive-back lineup) against quarterback Peyton Manning. However, the passing attack can go over the top to wily veteran Marvin Harrison. The offensive line was a group of heretofore unspectacular players other teams pretty much refused to draft in the first few rounds.

During the course of his team’s undefeated season, Shula’s Dolphins played a relatively weak schedule, with only two opponents having winning records. Eight of the Dolphins’ 14 games were against their generally weak division rivals, and two others were against teams who had finished in first the year before, but tanked in 1972.

During the course of his team’s undefeated season, Dungy’s Colts so far have played a relatively weak schedule, with only two opponents having winning records. Four of the Colts’ nine games have been against their generally weak division rivals, and one other (New England) was against a team that had won the Super Bowl the year before, but has tanked so far in 2005.

Shula’s Dolphins had two close calls — a one-point win over Buffalo, and a two-point win over Minnesota, in which Miami had to rally in the fourth quarter. Dungy’s Colts have had two close calls — a one-touchdown win over Cleveland, and a seven-point win over Jacksonville in which Indianapolis had to rally late in the third quarter.

Shula had a secretary named Dungy; Dungy has a secretary named Shula. Wait, that was one of the eerie parallels between presidents Lincoln and Kennedy.

Of course, Shula and Dungy don’t have everything in common.

As of yet, there is no Tony Dungy Expressway, no chain of Tony Dungy’s Steakhouses, no Tony Dungy Stadium at his alma mater. Though with Dungy’s alma mater being Minnesota and Shula’s being John Carroll University, Dungy will have a much better chance of getting his own expressway and steakhouse before giving enough money to build a new stadium at his old school.

Dungy has a mustache, not the baby muttonchops Shula sported in 1972. Dungy likes to wear a team cap on the sideline; Shula went hatless.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Pain on the skating rink, flying high on the hardwood, upsets on the football field, and more. more photos

As of yet, Dungy has not had his punter, Hunter Smith, run out of punt formation, as Shula did with Larry Seiple to set up the Dolphins’ first touchdown in their 21-17 AFC championship game at Pittsburgh. Nor has Dungy watched helplessly as his kicker, Mike Vanderjagt, tried to throw a pass after a blocked field goal, leading to an interception and touchdown, as Garo Yepremian did in the Super Bowl for Washington’s only score in the Dolphins’ 14-7 victory.

And Dungy still has to win four more games to match Shula’s total 17-0 season, and seven more games to match Shula’s sweep through the regular season and the playoffs.

Perhaps, though, with all the similarities between Dungy and Shula, the 2005 Colts are fated to match the Dolphins’ 1972 feat. If nothing else, think about this: Shula has five letters in his last name, and so does Dungy. Oooo, spooky.

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