If there ever was a time for the Indianapolis Colts to win the AFC, the time is now.

For three years in a row, the Colts’ season has been crushed in road playoff games, all of them outdoors in cold weather. This team is built for speed, and their best chance to win the AFC this year will be to play their playoff games on the fast track (and in the controlled weather conditions) of their home field.

After three weeks, the AFC is up in the air. All of the top teams have question marks. The New England Patriots, who have lost numerous players and coaches over the last few years, lost three more key players in their 23-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Whether or not these losses affect the Patriots’ dynasty remains to be seen, but there may finally be a chink in their armor.

The Steelers, who have a bye this week, continue a grueling stretch in their schedule with the San Diego Chargers week five, followed by games with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. It is quite possible that they will lose at least one of those games, if not more.

The Kansas City Chiefs proved in their loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday night that their defense isn’t as improved as they thought. The Jaguars, Broncos and Chargers are too inconsistent to be considered elite teams. The Bengals have much to prove before they can be a serious AFC contender, and the New York Jets and Ravens are a mess.

The conference is there for the taking -- and the Colts must take while the taking is good.

The Colts are off to a 3-0 start, and they have a soft schedule coming up. Their next four games are against Tennessee, San Francisco, St. Louis and Houston. Indianapolis should beat all of these teams. Two of these games are against division rivals, so winning them is a must.

After this stretch, they have their bye week before the biggest game on their schedule -- a Monday night showdown with the Patriots in Foxboro on November 7th.

If the Colts can go into that game 7-0, they would be in contention for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, even if they don’t pull out a victory in New England. However, achieving that elusive win against the Patriots would all but guarantee that the AFC playoff road runs through the RCA Dome.

Through the season’s first three games, the Colts are a different team than they have been the last few years. This difference could be the catalyst that carries them to the AFC championship. No longer are they relying solely on offensive firepower. Their defense appears vastly improved, allowing a miniscule 5.3 points a game. Much of the yardage they have given up has come in the late moments of games as teams try to play catch-up.

Stud defensive end Dwight Freeney, who led the league in sacks last season, continues to cause havoc in the opposing team’s backfield. He is tied for second in sacks this season. Moreover, the addition of Corey Simon to the defensive line has not only helped Freeney, but has also aided guys like Montae Reagor in making big plays.

On the other side of the ball, the offense has helped the defense through an effective running game, chewing up 114 yards a contest and the clock. Edgerrin James, who looks like a player looking for a long-term deal, is fourth in the league in rushing.

Although the passing game has not put up huge numbers (causing fantasy football owners everywhere to pull their hair out), it has been effective enough to win games. Peyton Manning has completed 60% of his passes. He has two interceptions to go along with his two touchdown passes, which is uncharacteristic of his play. However, Manning has not taken a sack yet this year and has made plays at key times during their 3-0 start.

It is just a matter of time before the passing offense comes to life. They have too much talent to remain mediocre over the long haul. The next four games provide the Colts a chance to get the offense rolling. When this happens, the Colts will be tough to beat if their defense continues to play the way they have.

And difficult to beat they must be. If the Colts want to be a serious Super Bowl contender, they must not lose their focus.

The NFL is a league of upsets. Games with Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and San Diego loom on their schedule. The Colts cannot afford to drop a game to a lesser opponent along the way, or else they may suffer another road playoff game and, once again, watch their Super Bowl dreams freeze in the January air.