The absurdly premature 2012 playoff picture: Week 4

Top AFC seeds : Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens Other AFC division champs : Denver Broncos, New England Patriots AFC wild cards : Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers Top NFC seeds : Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers Other NFC division champs : Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers NFC wild cards : Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants • This week's absurdly premature playoff picture will be a great treat for those of you who fear change. There are no newcomers, and no one drops out. In the NFC, only the seeding changes. In the AFC, not even that changes. • The Eagles take over the driver's seat in the NFC East, but it's not a kneejerk reaction to their win over the Giants on Sunday night ‒ well, okay, maybe it is, but it's not just a kneejerk reaction to their win over the Giants on Sunday night. I see the Eagles as legit contenders, mostly on the strength of their defense. Are they better than the Giants? Through four games, their defense certainly has been. • I will consider moving the Cardinals ahead of the 49ers in the NFC West, but I won't do so before week eight. I'm sorry, but I've been burned on these early-season wonders before. If they're still...