The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts offense has looked ordinary. Their start to the season has not.

The Colts are 2-0 for only the third time since moving to Indianapolis in 1984, are one of four remaining unbeaten teams in the AFC and already have beaten their most troubling nemesis - the Tennessee Titans.

What's made this year's start so promising, and perhaps a worry to the rest of the NFL, is that the Colts are using a new strategy for success.

"The defense is outstanding just getting us the ball," tight end Marcus Pollard said Monday. "If we just get eight or nine or 10 points a game, we can win."

Putting up points has not typically been a problem for the Colts, who are considered one of the league's top offenses.

This season, though, Indianapolis has struggled to meet its lofty standards.

The Colts so far have just 562 total yards and two offensive touchdowns. In past seasons, those modest numbers would have been a recipe for disaster.

Now the combination of a pesky defense and an offense doing just enough has been good enough to beat two of last year's playoff teams - Cleveland and Tennessee.

The question is how much better the Colts can be when the offense gets in sync.

"We have the potential to be just like we were in '99 or better," two-time NFL rushing champ Edgerrin James said, referring to the Colts 13-3 record in his rookie season. "It's just a situation of going out and doing it because the defense is getting us back on the field. In the past, we were forced to be on the sideline."

The biggest change has been attitude.

Coach Tony Dungy said Monday that the defensive players' confidence was growing rapidly and their comments indicate as much.

After Sunday's 33-7 victory over the Titans, defensive end Dwight Freeney said the Colts played "their game."

The Colts also rank among the early season leaders in one stat, turnover margin, that truly matters in the NFL. Indianapolis is plus-2 and has continued its preseason trend of creating turnovers after going minus-5 last season.

If that continues, the Colts won't need many points to keep winning.

"I think it's really neat for those (defensive) guys that we won without the offense really having 40 points or 500 yards," Dungy said. "They're beginning to understand there's a lot of ways to win football games."

Opponents might also have to contend with the fear factor.

At some point, they worry that Indianapolis' offense is likely to start playing its usual way.

Already, there have been indications of what can be expected.

James has appeared healthy in the first two games and is running with more power than he did last year.

Quarterback Peyton Manning has thrown just one touchdown pass and has only 384 yards passing. Receiver Marvin Harrison has 12 catches for 103 yards - numbers he sometimes achieves in one game.

Yet, the Colts have not lost.

"I think in two or three weeks, we'll be pretty sharp," Dungy said.

While the Colts continue working on the refinements, they've also found some other options.

Tight ends Dallas Clark and Pollard have become a major factor in the offense. Wide receivers Reggie Wayne and Troy Walters have produced big catches in clutch situations.

Plus, the Colts still have a few other tricks.

"We still have some things to tinker with," Dungy said with a smile. "What (the other players) are doing is making them play the whole package and when you have to do that, Marvin will get more single coverage and we'll go to him more."

If Dungy's defense continues to work, the Colts won't need many points. But they expect more.

"You've got to score more than seven points," James said with a laugh. "The defense has played well but they're always going to give up just seven points. You've got to take care of your responsibility, too."

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