NFL Playoff Picture: Week 4 Edition

AFC Division Winners (byes and seeding detailed below)

1. Cincinnati Bengals (4-0, bye)
2. Denver Broncos (4-0, bye)
3. New England Patriots (3-0)
4. Indianapolis Colts (2-2)

Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals don’t have anything to prove in the regular season, the playoffs are their problem. However, it is still impressive to see them play at a consistent elite level week after week regardless of who their opponent is.

The Andy Dalton-A.J. Green connection is impressive, but their defense is what truly stands out as they allow just 19.3 points per game and none of them have scored more than 24 in any of their first four games.

In fact, the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t score a single touchdown in Cincinnati last Sunday as they were forced to attempt seven field goals.

Dalton is also third in the league in both total passing yards and touchdowns. He makes amazing happen not only with green, but with other receivers like Brandon Tate.

That is the mark of a solid team. A date with the Seattle Seahawks awaits them next week to prove their mettle.

The Broncos are also undefeated and they defeated the Minnesota Vikings by relying on their ferocious defense. They took Adrian Peterson’s best punch and retaliated in style.

However, Peyton Manning’s accuracy is becoming a problem. That is not something I ever thought I would say, but the fact remains that he has thrown at least one interception in four straight games for the first time since 2001.

Denver finds ways to win, but they can’t expect to be at the razor’s edge every week and come out smiling all the time.

New England won the bye week and the Colts…Well, the Colts were lucky as hell.

They were missing Andrew Luck for the first time ever and still won in overtime, but the real stunner was that the Jaguars missed two game-winning field goals and wasted a possession in overtime before Adam Vinatieri did his thing and put the ball through the uprights to seal the deal.

Hasselbeck was actually solid, completing 30 of his 47 passes for 282 yards, a touchdown and no picks. That should give Chuck Pagano confidence in not having to rush Luck back for Thursday night’s date against J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans.

A Sunday Night Football date with the Pats looms in the horizon 10 days later.

Next: NFC Bubble Teams