INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Franchise quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Michael Vick duel for the first time Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts host the Atlanta Falcons in an interconference game.
But Sunday's contest will not include Dan Reeves, who was fired as coach of the Falcons Wednesday and replaced with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for the rest of the season.
The top pick in the 1998 draft, Manning is closing in on his second division title with the Colts. He is the only quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards in each of his first six seasons.
Indianapolis has a one-game lead over Tennessee in the AFC South and the tiebreaker edge due to a sweep of the Titans. The Colts can clinch the division with a win coupled with a loss by Tennessee and can seal a playoff spot with a win Sunday or a loss by Miami to Philadelphia on Monday night.
The No. 1 overall selection in the 2001 draft, Vick is the NFL's fastest quarterback. In his first full season as a starter last year, Vick led the Falcons to the playoffs with a 9-6-1 record.
But the electrifying Vick suffered a broken right leg in the preseason and the Falcons faltered without him, winning just two games.
However, Vick proved he was fully recovered in his first start of the season, rushing for 141 yards and a touchdown in a 20-14 overtime win over the first-place Carolina Panthers. Vick's rushing total was the third most in NFL history by a quarterback. He already holds the record with 173 yards, set last season in overtime against Minnesota.
Containing Vick will be the problem for Indianapolis' defense, which had to deal with Steve McNair last week in a pivotal 29-27 victory at Tennessee. McNair's running ability has been hampered by a strained calf muscle, but he threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts.
However, Atlanta's pass defense is ranked last in the NFL and must face Manning and receiver Marvin Harrison. A three-time Pro Bowler, Manning has passed for 3,611 yards and 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions this season.
Harrison, a Pro Bowler each of the last four years, had 10 catches for 124 yards in the win over Tennessee, raising his season totals to 79 receptions for 1,036 yards and eight touchdowns.
Indianapolis also has a strong running game with Edgerrin James, who rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns at Tennessee. He has rushed for 918 yards and nine scores this season.
The Colts have won 11 of the 12 meetings, including a 41-27 victory here on December 2001 in which Manning threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he informed Reeves on Tuesday that the team would bring in a new coach for the 2004 season and that Reeves asked to be released from his position, "even though our desire was for him to stay on through the rest of the season."
