Why they’re unbeaten You won’t see an NFL team execute its offence with any more precision than the Saints this season. New Orleans has the No. 1 offence and is the league’s highest scoring team, having hung 48 points last week on the previously unbeaten New York Giants. The Saints have had nice balance between the run and pass, with Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush splitting the load on the ground. Quarterback Drew Brees ranks 11th in yards passing, but the statistics that jump out are: 13 touchdowns, two interceptions and four sacks. The defence has played a physical style and safety Darren Shaper leads the NFL with five interceptions. The Saints are yet to trail in a game this season, and have won each of their five matches by at least 14 points.

Combined record of teams played 14-15

Combined record of remaining opponents 23-37

Tough games ahead Atlanta Falcons (Nov. 2), New England Patriots (Nov. 30), at Falcons (Dec. 13)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-0)

Why they’re unbeaten Despite playing without two of his key receivers from last season, Marvin Harrison (retired) and Anthony Gonzalez (injured), quarterback Peyton Manning is averaging 329 yards per game and leads the NFL with a completion percentage of 73.5 – which would set an NFL record if he can keep it up. Indy’s running game hasn’t been stellar so far, but it hasn’t had to rely on it yet. The blitzing defence has shut down opponents in three out of five games this season, led by the play of ends Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, who’ve combined for 10½ sacks. The scary part? Their best defensive player, safety Bob Sanders, is due back this week after missing the entire season thus far. The Colts have won 14 regular-season games in a row.

Combined record of teams played 10-18

Combined record of remaining opponents 20-28

Tough games ahead Patriots (Nov. 15), at Baltimore Ravens (Nov. 22), Denver Broncos (Dec. 13)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-0)

Why they’re unbeaten For starters, a little good luck. The Vikings have won two games by three or fewer points, both being decided on the final play. The combination of Brett Favre under centre and Adrian Peterson in the backfield has produced the NFC’s second-highest scoring team. Peterson leagues the lead in rushing, while Favre, almost as famous for his interceptions as his touchdowns, has found the end zone 12 times against just two picks. On defence, the Vikings front is a terror, tied for the league lead in sacks with 21. But the secondary has been vulnerable at times and overall defensive inconsistency has been an issue. Minnesota ranks 13th against the run and 26th against the pass, so Favre better keep spinning his magic.

Combined record of teams played 11-23 Combined record of remaining opponents 30-25

Tough games ahead at Pittsburgh Steelers (Oct. 25), New York Giants (Jan. 3)

DENVER BRONCOS (6-0)

Why they’re unbeaten Defence, defence and defence. Taking nothing away from the consistent play of their offence, the Broncos simply don’t surrender enough points to lose, giving up an average of 11 per game so far. And the Broncos get tougher to score upon the longer a game goes. Opposing teams have been good on just two of 35 third-down conversions after halftime, a big part of why Denver has surrendered just 10 second-half points. They have veteran leadership in the secondary and Elvis Dumervil has been a force up front, benefiting from the switch to a 3-4 defence to lead the NFL with 10 sacks. The Broncos have a solid running game and simply don’t make negative plays on offence. Quarterback Kyle Orton’s only interception was at the end of a half on a Hail Mary pass, while receivers Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley and Brandon Marshall have been superb.

Combined record of teams played 16-18

Combined record of remaining opponents 28-29 Tough games ahead Steelers (Nov. 9), Giants (Nov. 26), at Colts (Dec. 13)

NFL NOTES

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin, above, could miss this week’s game against the New York Giants. … New York Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (knee) is gone for the season, as is Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom (Achilles). Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) could miss this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. … The Chicago Bears have lost another starting linebacker for the season: Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee). Chicago has signed quarterback Jay Cutler through 2013. … Buffalo Bills QB Trent Edwards missed practice this week with a concussion. … Minnesota’s Brett Favre will try to become the first QB to go 7-0 with a new team since Dieter Brock did it for the old Los Angeles Rams back in 1985 – the Canadian Football Hall of Famer’s one and only NFL season. … The Cleveland Browns have had 12 players miss practice this week with flu-like symptoms. … Chicago WR Johnny Knox is shooting to become just the fifth NFL rookie to score touchdowns in five consecutive games. … The Miami Dolphins’ third-down conversion rate is 85 per cent when needing two or fewer yards. … Vikings WR Sidney Rice, above, is coming off a career-high 176-yard game. … Ben Roethlisberger is leading the NFL in passing, and his 417 yards last week was the fourth-highest total in Steelers history. … Seven different New Orleans Saints players scored touchdowns against the Giants last week. … Dallas Cowboys WR Miles Austin has been promoted to starting receiver after recording 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs before Dallas’s bye week. … The Bills will use Fred Jackson as their primary punt returner again this week, benching Roscoe Parrish, whose fumble led to a loss to the Browns two weeks ago. … Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub leads the NFL with 14 touchdown passes. … Miami running back Ricky Williams has 448 total yards through five games. … Oakland DL Richard Seymour predicted this week that the 2-4 Raiders are playoff-bound.

READY, SET / FIVE TO WATCH

1Minnesota Vikings (6-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) After scoring 33 points on the notoriously tough Baltimore Ravens defence, the Vikes get tested by the Steelers with a chance to climb to 7-0. Anybody still think the Brett Favre signing was a bad idea?

2San Francisco 49ers (3-2) at Houston Texans (3-3) A matchup of two teams on the way up, but still fighting for respect. The ‘Niners get their first look at rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

3Atlanta Falcons (4-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-2) The Cowboys have three wins over three winless teams this season. The Falcons’ only loss is to the New England Patriots. Big test for the ‘Boys.

4New Orleans Saints (5-0) at Miami Dolphins (2-3) The league’s highest-scoring team takes on Miami, which loves to grind it out on the ground. Dolphins going for third win after 0-3 start.

5Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants (5-1) The Giants try to get over last week’s punch in the gut by hosting the defending NFC champs. New York’s pass defence, which failed miserably last week, gets another big challenge.

WEEK 7 / DAVID NAYLOR’S PICKS AGAINST THE SPREAD

Green Bay Packers (minus 7) at Cleveland Browns Packers’ banged-up O-line is a main reason for such a low spread. They’ll win it with D. Packers

Indianapolis Colts (minus 13½) at St. Louis Rams Nice way to come off a bye for unbeaten Indy. Colts

Minnesota Vikings (plus 4) at Pittsburgh Steelers While everyone applauds Vikings and Steelers on defence, both have become dynamic offensively. Steelers

New England Patriots (minus 15) v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (in London) The Glazer family, which owns the Bucs, also owns Manchester United. Maybe they should skip this one and watch their other football team. Patriots

San Francisco 49ers (plus 3) at Houston Texans One of these teams will take a big step toward contention. Texans too inconsistent to trust. 49ers

San Diego Chargers (minus 4½) at Kansas City Chiefs The Chiefs have some confidence after first win, Chargers can’t find their mojo, but … Chargers

New York Jets (minus 6½) at Oakland Raiders Jets struggle on the west coast (0-4 last season). But hard to believe those were the real Raiders last week against Philly. Jets

Atlanta Falcons (plus 3½) at Dallas Cowboys The Falcons’ performances have been eye-openers. Dallas has made us cover our eyes. Falcons

Chicago Bears (plus 2) at Cincinnati Bengals Both teams were exposed a bit last weekend. Bears

New Orleans Saints (minus 7) at Miami Dolphins After demolishing the Giants, Saints take their high-wire act to Miami, where Dolphins will try to muscle them. Could happen, but … Saints

Buffalo Bills (plus 7) at Carolina Panthers Jets ran for 318 yards last week against Bills, but … Bills

Arizona Cardinals (plus 7) at New York Giants Cardinals almost never play well at Meadowlands. Giants

Monday

Philadelphia Eagles (minus 7) at Washington Redskins Philly flopped so badly in Oakland that we can’t see it as anything but an aberration. Eagles

Bye Baltimore, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, Seattle, Tennessee

Last week 5-9

Season 36-53

With files from The Associated Press