1. First-year flameouts » When looking at teams with first-year coaches (this season there are nine, excluding those with new coaches that took over midseason), one thing generally stands out: those teams were in bad shape the previous year. So far these nine teams stand at 32-60 — with Jim Caldwell’s Colts (10-0) and Josh McDaniels’ Broncos (7-4) having better than four wins. With the exception of Eric Mangini (Browns, 1-9) and Jim Mora (Seahawks, 3-7), this year’s first-timers haven’t been in the top job before. Three coaches are entering the weekend at 1-9 — Mangini, the Rams’ Steve Spagnuolo and Tampa’s Raheem Morris. Spagnuolo is the only one not being rumored to be on his way out. The NFL could stand for “Not For Long” if these coaches don’t produce better results — and fast. — Leon Saffelle

2. The Colts’ inexplicable run » With a win today at Houston (5-5), Indianapolis (10-0) will claim its 20th straight regular season victory, one shy of the NFL record of 21 set by New England (2006-08). Impressed? Don’t be. Twelve of the 19 wins have come by a touchdown or less. Each of the last four have come by four or fewer points. This year’s success has been confounding. The Colts have surrendered the fewest points in the NFL (157), but how? They rank No. 18 in pass defense, No. 12 against the run, and are only OK at getting to the quarterback (24 sacks) and forcing turnovers (19). Yes, the Colts have the best quarterback in football, Peyton Manning, but they support him with the next-to-worst rushing attack (85 yards per game) in the league. — Kevin Dunleavy

3. With the poison removed, the Chiefs are rediscovering the joys of football » First, running back Larry Johnson’s siege on professionalism was completed when he earned his release with a series of inflammatory tweets, the final straw of a tumultuous six-year tenure. (The sports world may be full of apples that don’t fall far from the tree, but this one rolled down the hill, across the street, and into the gutter.) Then, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing substances. With the fog of controversy finally lifted, last weekend Kansas City pulled off its biggest win of year, beating Pittsburgh in overtime. Duplicating such an effort against San Diego won’t be easy, but for now the Chiefs might at last put some distance between them and an inevitably overrated top draft choice out of LSU. — Craig Stouffer

Upset special

Bears over the Vikings

There really is no good reason to pick Chicago. This is a 4-6 team headed in the wrong direction playing at the 9-1 Vikings. But the Bears aren’t quite as bad as the record indicates. They lost on a last-second touchdown to Green Bay in Week 1. They dropped a close one at home to Philadelphia last week and three turnovers inside the 10 cost them in a 21-14 loss at Atlanta. Quarterback Jay Cutler is struggling. But if Chicago can protect him they at least have a puncher’s chance. Meanwhile, the Bears will have to take their chances with Brett Favre and the Minnesota passing game. Stopping star running back Adrian Peterson is priority No. 1. — Brian McNally

Fantasy watch


Five to start

1. QB Vince Young » His passing numbers aren’t great, but the Titans quarterback makes up for it with his legs. He rushed 11 times for 73 yards last week.

2. RB Ricky Williams » With Ronnie Brown out for the rest of the season, Williams has flourished in his full-time roll with more than 100 yards rushing the last two weeks.

3. RB Laurence Maroney » The Pats No. 1 back has scored a touchdown in five straight games. Lots of points should be scored when New England plays the Saints.

4. WR Roddy White » He hasn’t scored a touchdown in three weeks, but the Falcons wideout is facing a Bucs defense that is allowing 29.4 points per game.

5. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh » The Seahawks wideout has 19 receptions his last three games. Seattle plays the Rams Sunday — who rank 24th against the pass.

Five to sit

1. QB Donovan McNabb » The last time the Eagles quarterback faced the Redskins he threw for only 156 yards, his second-lowest outing of the season.

2. RB Ray Rice » Steelers lost to the woeful Chiefs last week, but it wasn’t because of their rush defense. The Ravens will face the top rushing defense in the NFL Sunday night.

3. RB Matt Forte » The Bears back has only rushed for 108 yards total in the last three games and has scored just three touchdowns this season.

4. WR Devin Hester » The human joystick hasn’t had a return touchdown this year and had only 18 yards receiving on four catches last week against the Eagles.

5. WR Steve Smith » The Panthers wideout will see a lot of coverage by Darrelle Revis, who is becoming one of the top coverage cornerbacks in the NFL.

— Jeffrey Tomik

Game to watch

Patriots at Saints, Monday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

The team that pulled off an undefeated regular season two years ago will try to stop another team from doing the same. This is not the last test for the Saints — they have road games at Atlanta and Carolina and a home game vs. Dallas upcoming — but it is the toughest one. Opposing running backs have done well vs. New Orleans lately as three backs in the last four games have surpassed 131 yards; but New England is not big on the run. The Saints’ defense is hurting a little, especially at cornerback, so it’ll be interesting to see how they handle the Patriots’ passing game. The Patriots must stop a Saints’ offense that ranks first overall in yards and points. — John Keim

Examiner Power Rankings

— James Irwin