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When DeMarcus Ware teamed up with Von Miller in Denver, the two of them fantasized about what kind of tandem they'd be if they could both stay healthy.
Neither man wanted to mention how many sacks they could collect individually. But Ware suggested that between the two, "we want to have as many sacks as one team."
The pass-rush partners are exceeding those lofty expectations — their 15 combined sacks through six games are better than almost half the league.
Fourteen teams have fewer sacks and three more have the same amount that Miller (eight) and Ware (seven) have gathered.
That puts the duo on pace for 40, which would break by one sack the mark set by Chris Doleman and Keith Millard of the Minnesota Vikings in 1989.
"I did envision that," Ware said Monday of the duo's fast start.
Playing terrific supporting roles to Peyton Manning, the new record-holder for most career touchdown passes, Ware dumped San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick three times and Miller got him twice in the Broncos' 42-17 statement win Sunday night.
"You just get in a groove and sacks come in bunches," said Miller, who has collected sacks in five straight games. "I'm just trying to do my job. If I can get my job done, it makes everybody else's job that much easier."
Trestman says Bears remain united
If the Chicago Bears are coming apart as a team within the locker room, it's news to coach Marc Trestman.
An emotional postgame locker room scene following Sunday's 27-14 loss to Miami featured players yelling and wide receiver Brandon Marshall calling the 3-4 start to the season "unacceptable." That had the Bears coach on Monday calling the situation similar to what he's seen in numerous other locker room situations.
"I think our team is very much together," Trestman said.
Some reports said the relationship between Marshall and quarterback Jay Cutler had been strained, while others said Marshall was yelling at kicker Robbie Gould, among others.
"I told our team after the game in the locker room, just as I'm telling you [the media] is that we have to always be accepting of how people express themselves after a game," Trestman said. "They're coming down from a week of working hard and building their emotions and passions for the game. And I'm not reading anymore into it than that, and we have to be accepting and non-judgmental and let it pass."
Players backed up Trestman's assessment. Defensive end Willie Young called it common for his former team, the Detroit Lions, to express themselves in a similar way after games.
Around the league
Niners • Center Daniel Kilgore is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery Tuesday on a fractured left ankle suffered in the third quarter of Sunday night's loss at Denver. Marcus Martin, a 20-year-old rookie third-round draft pick from USC, is the favorite to fill in for Kilgore on the starting offensive line.
Bills • Running back C.J. Spiller has had surgery to repair a collarbone injury, and it's uncertain if his season is over. Buffalo (4-3) will also be without co-starting running back Fred Jackson, who could miss up to four weeks with a groin injury. Both were hurt in a 17-16 win over Minnesota on Sunday.
Washington • Coach Jay Gruden says that unless Robert Griffin III is 100 percent ready to return from injury, Colt McCoy will start at quarterback against Dallas next week. Griffin has been sidelined since dislocating his left ankle in Week 2 against Jacksonville. Kirk Cousins took over as the starter, but he was benched at halftime Sunday, when McCoy came in and led Washington to a come-from-behind 19-17 win over Tennessee. —
This week
Thursday
San Diego at Denver, 6:25 p.m.
Sunday
Detroit vs. Atlanta in London, 7:30 a.m.
11 a.m. games
St. Louis at Kansas City
Houston at Tennessee
Minnesota at Tampa Bay
Seattle at Carolina
Baltimore at Cincinnati
Miami at Jacksonville
Chicago at New England
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets
Afternoon games
Philadelphia at Arizona, 2:05 p.m.
Oakland at Cleveland, 2:25 p.m.
Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, 2:25 p.m.
Green Bay at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m.
Bye: N.Y. Giants, San Francisco
Monday
Washington at Dallas, 6:30 p.m.