The Colts played their last three contests, including two night games, within a 14-day span, and Peyton Manning used the time to prove he is without question the league's MVP one quarter of the way through the season. Indianapolis' schedule from Week Two to Four would have been a grueling stretch for any club, but it was particularly challenging for Indianapolis, which was already dealing with injuries to a starting wide receiver in Anthony Gonzalez and arguably their most valuable defender in S Bob Sanders.

Yet, the Colts are 4-0. Manning completed 69-of-99 passes for eight touchdowns and just two interceptions in the last three games. The defending MVP has picked up where he left off last season, when he compiled a TD-INT ratio of 17-3 in the final nine contests of the year and it doesn't appear he'll be yielding the top stop on the Meter any time soon. Even while working out the kinks with a young receiving corps, Manning is a step ahead of the rest of the pack.

1. Colts QB Peyton Manning — At 33, Manning has thrown for more than 300 yards in every game this season and is on pace for 5,344 yards, which would be nearly 800 yards more than his previous career high.

2. Saints QB Drew Brees — He hasn't thrown a touchdown since Week Two, but is still tied for the league lead with nine. This is his longest stretch without throwing a TD since early in the 2007 season, but New Orleans is 4-0 as the running game and defense have stepped up. Something tells me Brees is fine with that.

3. Giants QB Eli Manning — It would be a shame for the Giants if Manning's foot injury hinders his play for the rest of the year, since he's really come into his own this season. The sixth-year veteran fired three more TDs on Sunday in a win over the Chiefs, giving him an 8-2 TD-INT ratio.

4. Ravens QB Joe Flacco — Although the Ravens came up just short in their attempt to knock off the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, Flacco was solid once again. It's clear the team feels much more comfortable with the ball in his hands this year. He's thrown 35 or more times in three of Baltimore's four games after doing that just once as a rookie.

5. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson — Peterson was held to 55 yards on 25 carries against Green Bay on Monday night in what was by far his worst performance of the year. In the second quarter, he was stripped of the ball by rookie LB Clay Matthews, who returned it 42 yards for a touchdown.

6. Chargers QB Philip Rivers — At 2-2, the Chargers have been a disappointment thus far, but the blame doesn't fall on Rivers' shoulders. He nearly led them back against the Steelers after falling behind 28-0, cutting the deficit to seven late in the fourth quarter, but Pittsburgh held on.

7. Patriots QB Tom Brady — I didn't see the skirt that Rodney Harrison accused Brady of wearing vs. the Ravens, but I did see his best performance since the fourth quarter in Week One. He's getting better, but still isn't close to the Brady of old.

8. Broncos OLB Elvis Dumervil — The Broncos "D" has suddenly become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and Dumervil is making sacks at a break-neck pace, collecting eight in the last three games. Don't think he can keep this up, but perhaps Dumervil is hitting his prime in his fourth season.

9. Falcons QB Matt Ryan — On bye.

10. Vikings QB Brett Favre — He's not the most valuable player on his team, but it's impossible to ignore his stunning start to the season. Favre showed he still is able to rise to the occasion in big moments in the Vikings' Monday-night win over his old team.

Honorable mention: 49ers ILB Patrick Willis, Saints FS Darren Sharper, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, Vikings DE Jared Allen, Jets CB Darrelle Revis, Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown, Bengals DE Antwan Odom, Colts WR Reggie Wayne, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Jets QB Mark Sanchez.