INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis heard the complaints for years: The defenders were too small, too soft, too devoid of high-priced talent to become an elite unit.

Now the Colts have the evidence to prove everyone wrong.

Indy heads into the playoffs next week with a defense that ranks third in the NFL overall, second against the pass and, most surprisingly, holding the title of league's best in points allowed.

"I was a little surprised by it myself when I got the stats and saw we led the league in points allowed," coach Tony Dungy said Monday. "I think that's one thing that's hard for people to envision, us as a defensive football team. People have always thought of us an offensive team."

Indianapolis (13-3), of course, is best known for scoring points by the dozens, something that hasn't changed this season. Only the record-setting Patriots and Dallas Cowboys, the NFC's top seed, scored more points in 2007.

Yet no team allowed fewer points than the Colts' 262.

While the Colts may never be mentioned in the same breath as Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay, teams with long-established reputations as aggressive, ball-hawking defenses, this has clearly been Indy's best defense under Dungy.

Only one team, San Diego (48), has forced more turnovers this season. Indy has 37 and its 22 interceptions is the franchise's highest total since 23 in 1979.

Indy has improved dramatically against the run, too, trimming last year's horrendous average of 5.3 yards per carry to a respectable 3.8.

It has one of the league's frontrunners for defensive player of the year in Bob Sanders, and has achieved those numbers despite playing with a lineup decimated by injuries and defections.

Most figured the Colts would regress after losing three Super Bowl starters — linebacker Cato June and cornerbacks Nick Harper and Jason David — in free agency. Then came season-ending injuries to defensive tackle Anthony McFarland in August and linebacker Rob Morris in September.

So when three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, the 2004 sacks champion, went down with a season-ending foot injury in mid-November, the Colts' defensive resurgence was supposed to be doomed.

That didn't happen. They still haven't allowed more than 25 points in any game this season and have held nine opponents to 16 points or fewer.

"It probably didn't hurt us as much as people thought," Dungy said. "But these guys really don't worry about that. The guys who have gone in there have done well, and hustle and energy can make up for a lot of things."

Everywhere the Colts looked, they found replacements.

They filled McFarland's void with undrafted free agent Ed Johnson. They filled Morris' spot with the previously untested Tyjuan Hagler. They replaced Freeney with unheralded Josh Thomas, and despite losing 55 games to injuries from their projected lineup in August, the Colts have continued to pressure quarterbacks, create chaos and keep opponents out of the end zone.

Sixteen players have recorded at lest half a sack, 10 have an interception and five — linebackers Gary Brackett and Freddy Keiaho, cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson and Sanders — all have topped 100 tackles.

Most impressive is that Indy played its last three games with a completely refurbished defensive line, one that was missing all of its original projected starters.

"Our offensive staff has gotten a lot of kudos, but I think you have to give our defensive staff some credit, too," Dungy said. "Especially when you look at what we did with a lot of injuries and not a lot of household names, other than Bob Sanders."

The good news for Indy is bad news for the rest of the league: This defense could get even better in the playoffs.

Speedy defensive end Robert Mathis (two sprained knees), defensive tackle Raheem Brock (ribs) and safety Antoine Bethea (knee) are all expected to play Jan. 13 when the Colts face San Diego, Pittsburgh or Jacksonville.

And once again, Dungy knows Indy's fate may rest in the hands of the defense.

"I think this is the best we've played since I've been here," he said. "I thought the '05 team was the best. But we've been a lot sharper and we've played physical, and our guys play hard and that's a big part of the game."