The Associated Press

The Indianapolis Colts could look at their AFC South-leading 6-1 record and start thinking playoffs. The veterans know better. "I can recall a couple years ago when we were 6-2 and all of a sudden we were sitting at .500," offensive tackle Adam Meadows said Monday. "So we've got to play good football and keep getting better."

While the Colts are 6-1 for the first time since 1977, a first-half stretch Indianapolis fans have not enjoyed since the team moved from Baltimore, there are problems.

Coach Tony Dungy emphasized run defense for two weeks, then watched Houston pile up 131 yards rushing.

"This game we had a lot of tackles for negative yards and zero yards," Dungy said. "I think we made some progress."

STEELERS: Of all the descriptive phrases used over the years about the team, rarely has this one been appropriate so deep into a season: last-place Pittsburgh. With their season's midpoint arriving Sunday in Seattle, the Steelers (2-5) are bringing up the rear in the AFC North behind the Ravens (4-3), Bengals (3-4) and Browns (3-5). That's uncharted territory for a team that hasn't finished last in its division since going 5-11 in 1988.

PANTHERS: Dan Morgan suffered his second concussion in seven days, leaving Carolina unsure of the playing status of the oft-injured linebacker.

BRONCOS: Linebacker John Mobley returned to Denver after spending the night in a Baltimore hospital with a bruised spinal cord.

PACKERS: Brett Favre was held out of practice Monday to give his broken right thumb more time to heal, and could be cleared to throw by Wednesday as Green Bay prepared to play Minnesota.

Favre's thumb remained in a split as the Packers returned from a bye week, and coach Mike Sherman said he'll likely list Favre as probable on the injury report Wednesday.

REDSKINS: Danny Wuerffel won't be rejoining the team, leaving coach Steve Spurrier in a bind if he needs to play a backup quarterback Sunday against Dallas.

After releasing Rob Johnson last week, Spurrier wanted his former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida to return as the backup for Patrick Ramsey.

Wuerffel said no, preferring to remain with his expectant wife in New Orleans.

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