So, get ready, Kyle Eckel, you could be next; hey, Zach Strief, as a tackle eligible you're eligible to join the group; and given the way this defense has scored touchdowns, any touchdown-less defenders have to be considered candidates to chip in.

"We're trying to get more and more people on that list every week," strong safety Roman Harper said. "We talk about it. Trust me, we know about that record."

Harper is the only "slacker" among the starters in the secondary. Cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter, though sidelined by injury of late, have each returned an interception for a touchdown. Harper's sidekick, free safety Darren Sharper, has returned three of his eight interceptions for touchdowns.

Sharper has the same number of touchdowns as early-round fantasy draft picks such as Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, Bears returner extraordinaire Devin Hester and Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. He has one more touchdown than Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, Redskins running back Clinton Portis, Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, and Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes, the MVP of the Super Bowl last season.

Harper saw an underthrown pass by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady headed his way Monday night, but Sharper jumped up and grabbed the ball before it reached Harper.

"Man, I'm trying," Harper said. "I haven't even got a pick yet. I don't know when it's coming. I'm just staying ready, keeping my eyes open and my hands ready to try and put them up. I believe that as soon as I get an interception I'm going to (score) with it."

That's a mentality the Saints defenders have had since Gregg Williams took over as coordinator in the offseason.

Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, who has yet to score, admitted the record was on his mind when he picked up a Laurence Maroney fumble Monday night and took off toward the New England goal line. He kept fighting even after he was caught and fumbled the ball back to the Patriots at their 15.

"Not only do we try and get turnovers, we try and score the ball," Ellis said. "I was trying to help the team out and I tried a little too hard. The ball is the most important thing. It's not worth it for a couple extra yards, especially with the offense we have. If we had gotten the ball at the 15-yard line, you can imagine what was going to happen next."

A team can't break this record just with your run-of-the-mill running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends scoring touchdowns.

Drew Brees, who plays quarterback instead of running back for a very good reason, has two rushing touchdowns. Courtney Roby returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Defensive tackles Remi Ayodele and Anthony Hargrove scored touchdowns after recovering fumbles.

A notable name could have been added to the list if Brees had completed a pass to guard-turned-tackle-eligible Jamar Nesbit when a goal-line play broke down against the Jets.

"I wasn't even really a progression," Nesbit said. "It just so happened that I was the only guy that wasn't on that side. I came into (Brees') view. I don't think I was really supposed to be an option."

Nesbit was filling in for Strief, a backup tackle who usually fills the role of eligible receiver when New Orleans needs a lineman to serve as an extra tight end. Strief started that game at tackle because Jermon Bushrod was injured.

With Bushrod back, Strief will likely line up as an eligible receiver in upcoming games. Scoring a touchdown is a different matter.

"If they ever throw it to me, I'll catch it," Strief said. "I just don't see that. It's not my thing. I understand, I know my role, that's cool.

"I'm very confident that my name is so far down the list of people to throw the ball to that that will never happen. If you look at the people that (Brees) has to choose to throw the ball to, why throw it to me?"

Well, there is this record thing, and Brees is an equal opportunity distributor. Marques Colston, Pierre Thomas, and Robert Meachem are tied for the team lead with seven touchdowns each, Reggie Bush has six and Mike Bell four.

The offense is nearly out of options to add to the list. Tight end Darnell Dinkins caught his first touchdown against the Patriots on Monday night, becoming No. 19. A week earlier against the Buccaneers, tight end Dave Thomas became No. 18.

Bush tried to think of who could be added to the list. He dismissed Strief - "he's a lineman" - almost as quickly as Strief dismissed himself. That left Eckel, a fullback signed as a free agent in late October, as the only back or receiver not in that number.

Ironically, Eckel was a member of the 2007 Patriots, who share the 21 touchdown-scorers record with the 2000 Broncos and the 1987 Rams. He contributed two touchdowns to the Pats' cause.

Eckel laughed when reminded he's the only non-quarterback skill player without a touchdown.

"I was just talking to my buddy last night who has (tight end) Jeremy Shockey on his fantasy team," Eckel said, "and he said, why won't Drew throw Shockey the ball? I said, what do you mean? He throws everybody the ball - everybody but me."

Get ready.

SCORING MACHINE

The Saints have 53 touchdowns in 11 games, just four off the club-record 57 they scored last season. Here is how 19 players, two shy of the NFL record, have scored so far this season:

Touchdowns (53)

Marques Colston (7), Robert Meachem (7), Pierre Thomas (7), Reggie Bush (6), Mike Bell (4), Heath Evans (3), Darren Sharper (3), Jeremy Shockey (3), Drew Brees (2), Devery Henderson (2), Remi Ayodele (1), Darnell Dinkins (1), Jabari Greer (1), Lynell Hamilton (1), Anthony Hargrove (1), Lance Moore (1), Tracy Porter (1), Courtney Roby (1), David Thomas (1).

Receiving (27)

Colston (7), Meachem (7), Shockey (3), Evans (2), Henderson (2), P. Thomas (2), Bush (1), Dinkins (1), Moore (1), D. Thomas (1).

Rushing (18)

Bush (5), P. Thomas (5), Bell (4), Brees (2), Evans (1), Hamilton (1).

Returns (8)

Sharper (3), Ayodele (1), Greer (1), Hargrove (1), Porter (1), Roby (1).

TDs by length

0*-20 yards (37), 21-40 yards (7), 41-60 yards (5), 61-80 yards (1), 81-100 yards (3).

*Includes fumbles recoved in end zone.