One of the highest compliments paid the Indianapolis Colts lies in the fact they're attracting little extra attention for their undefeated start.

Look at the Vikings, the talking heads said. Then the Vikings lost. Look at the Broncos. Never mind. Look at the Saints! How about those Saints?

Oh, and the Colts are unbeaten, too.

There's been a largely “ho-hum” national reaction to the Colts' 7-0 start, and that's a reflection on the team's undeniable regular-season excellence. This is the fourth time in five years the Colts have opened 7-0, with the one-year glitch being Peyton Manning's knee-surgery recovery period last season. The Colts are the only team to start 7-0 more than once in the last five years.

Here's the good news for Colts fans: Even the players aren't getting worked up.

“We've had starts better than this and come out with nothing,” Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne said. “We just have to stay dialed in and continue to do what we're doing, stay focused all week and keep playing fast.”

Indy will host AFC South rival Houston (5-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday in Lucas Oil Stadium to reach the season's halfway point.

The Colts are not a perfect team. The running game continues to sputter, with an occasional Joseph Addai burst alongside some stutter-stop two- and three-yard gains. It's telling that the most impressive play by a Colts running back Sunday was Addai's touchdown pass to Wayne to beat San Francisco 18-14.

Manning continues to look for a reliable No. 2 wide receiver to complement Wayne, who posted 12 catches for 147 yards on a day when he was fighting a groin injury. Pierre Garcon isn't there yet. Dallas Clark is outstanding, but he's not truly a wide receiver. Austin Collie might be on his way. Maybe - maybe - Anthony Gonzalez will return before season's end.

Perfection will always be elusive. Every team has a few flaws. Everything else about the Colts seems to be clicking fairly well. Manning is super, no one argues that. But the defense has been a nice surprise and an improvement from a year ago. Bob Sanders has played two games in a row - you know you're living right when that happens.

Again, there's satisfaction, but no elation in the locker room.

“We've been here before,” Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “We've been 13-0 and lost in the first round. For us, it's business as usual, I guess. We're not taking anything for granted. This is definitely a great place for our team. We're just trying to keep this thing rolling.”

Coach Jim Caldwell won't claim much credit for the team's continued excellence, but he deserves some. He's the first NFL rookie coach since the 1970 modern-day era to start 7-0.

Granted, most first-year coaches inherit a rusty clunker with worn tires. Caldwell took Tony Dungy's keys to a low-mileage Lamborghini. Nevertheless, Caldwell has pushed the right buttons, whether the Colts are rolling in a blowout or fighting for their undefeated lives as they were against the 49ers.

The Colts trailed the 49ers until Addai's pass in the fourth quarter. It was the type of test they hadn't faced all year. As usual, they aced it.

After tight wins over Jacksonville and Miami in the first two games, the Colts had romped through four wins before the slugfest with the 49ers.

“We need these type of games; they'll help us in the long run,” Wayne said.

The Colts sealed the win with the type of football that becomes more necessary when the playoffs finally arrive. The defense closed ranks late in the game, coming up with big sacks from Robert Mathis and Freeney. The offense controlled the ball for the final six minutes, including a number of running plays, to keep the 49ers from getting a final offensive chance. It wasn't thrilling. It was gritty and efficient.

“We were moving the chains,” Wayne said. “If you move the chains, the clock continues to tick. We practice that every week, the four-minute offense, controlling the ball, keeping the clock moving and using their timeouts against them. It was rocky throughout the game, but we figured out a way.”

The Colts' habit of great starts no longer generates awe and celebration from national media or the fans. New Orleans' record will remain the bigger story as long as the Saints remain unbeaten.

I wouldn't be surprised, however, if the Colts are ultimately the last unbeaten team standing. In fact, no one will be surprised, which is the biggest compliment of all.