MIAMI – Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri became the all-time leader in Super Bowl field goals when he made three Sunday night, giving him seven for his career.

He passed former San Francisco 49ers kicker Ray Wersching, who held the previous record of five, and was one short of tying the record for most field goals in one Super Bowl.

After connecting on a 29-yarder early in the second quarter, Vinatieri missed wide left from 36 yards as time expired before halftime. It proved to be just a hiccup, though, in yet another fine Super Bowl performance.

Vinatieri made both his field-goal attempts in the third quarter, first from 24 yards and then from 20.

“There’s lots of ups and downs over the course of a game,” Vinatieri said. “You just go forward with it and forget about it. The next one’s the most important one.”

COLTS ARRIVE FIRST

Much was made of the Colts’ late arrival to South Florida last week, when the team stayed in Indianapolis until Monday. But on Sunday, Indianapolis was the first team to arrive at Dolphin Stadium.

Colts players stepped off team buses at about 2:50 p.m., 3-1/2 hours before kickoff.

The Bears did not arrive until more than 50 minutes later, when several Colts players and assistants already were out walking the field.

JARED PICKS COLTS

Judging by the sound of the crowd, Bears fans outnumbered Colts fans by roughly a 2-1 margin. So any semicelebrity support the team could get was welcome.

One well-known Colts fan in attendance was Subway pitchman Jared Fogle, an Indianapolis native who came to the game wearing a Colts jersey.

His prediction: Colts 27, Bears 14.

SOGGY SUNDAY

Sunday’s steady rainfall marked only the second time this season that the Colts had played in inclement weather.

The good news: The last time was in the AFC divisional playoff on Jan. 13, when the Colts won at Baltimore 15-6 in light rain.

MINOR INJURIES

The Colts did not have any major injuries going into the game – only minor concerns on defense. And early in the game, it seemed there were no reasons to worry.

Defensive end Robert Mathis started after back spasms forced him to leave the field midway through the Colts’ final practice on Friday. Right cornerback Jason David also missed the final practice with a nagging abdomen injury, but started Sunday. And Bob Sanders started at cornerback after being listed as questionable with a knee injury. Sanders had a key interception in the fourth quarter.

Nick Harper, who had not practiced all week because of to a sprained left ankle, started at cornerback and tied for the team high with three tackles in the first half. But his injury prevented him from returning.

Right tackle Ryan Diem also did not play in the second half because of an ankle injury.

Inactive players for Indianapolis were wide receivers Ricky Proehl and John Standeford, cornerbacks Tim Jennings and T.J. Rushing, linebacker Gilbert Gardner, guard Matt Ulrich, tackle Dan Federkeil and defensive end Ryan LaCasse.

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(c) 2007, The Miami Herald.

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AP-NY-02-04-07 2251EST