The cream has risen to the top of the US NFL after five weeks of action, with champions Denver Broncos proving to be nearly unstoppable in their title defence. And the balance of power that has for so long been in the NFC - the conference that won 15 of 16 Super Bowls from 1982 until last season - appears to have finally shifted to the AFC.

Denver and Jacksonville are still undefeated in the AFC, while Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Miami and New England have each suffered only one loss. The traditional power division, the NFC East, is off to an abysmal start with only Dallas boasting more wins than defeats. And the perennial powers San Francisco suffered an embarrassing defeat at AFC East strugglers Buffalo yesterday.

The Broncos destroyed feeble NFC East side Philadelphia Eagles at Mile High Stadium 41-16, despite playing for a second straight game without quarterback John Elway. Mike Shanahan's men ripped the Eagles to shreds through the air, and on the ground, with backup Bubby Brister tossing four touchdown passes and Terrell Davis rushing for 168 yards.

Kansas City Chiefs remained just a game off the pace in the AFC West with a 17-6 win over Seattle, the Seahawks second consecutive defeat against quality opposition.

The Bills beat San Francisco 2621 at Rich Stadium as Buffalo's big close-signing signing quarterback Rob Johnson - lured away from Jacksonville - completed 19 passes, one of them a touchdown.

AFC East challenger New England battled back to hand New Orleans their first defeat of the campaign, winning 30-27 at the Louisiana Superdome.

The Miami Dolphins left the Meadowlands smelling like dead fish, losing for the first time 20-9 against the New York Jets.

Detroit failed to build on their winning momentum after beating Tampa Bay last Monday by losing at Detroit 31-27. Dallas may have sealed Norv Turner's exit from Washington after beating the Redskins 31-10 at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.

The Redskins have yet to reach the play-offs in Turner's five-year reign.