The common response to the Cincinnati Bengals’ 4-0 start is to say "Let's wait until January."

And based on the team’s recent postseason history – four straight losses in the wild card game – it’s easy to dismiss the Bengals' regular season success. But with a margin of victory of 11, and an average of 30.3 points per game, this year’s Bengals look they're finally ready to be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender. Let’s take a closer look at the main driving force behind the Bengals’ success so far: the play of quarterback Andy Dalton.

Dalton’s performances in the playoffs have been unquestionably mediocre, but through the first four weeks this season, he leads the NFL in ANY/A (Adjusted Net Yards per Pass Attempt), which is my favorite statistic when evaluating quarterbacks because it correlates very well with winning percentage. Dalton is also second in the NFL with a 123.0 passer rating, only trailing Aaron Rodgers.

Even on tape, Dalton just looks more confident in his abilities than ever before, and he’s making better decisions in the pocket, as is evidenced by the fact that he’s thrown only one interception in four games.

Dalton is also surrounded by quality weapons on offense, including wide receiver A.J. Green, running backs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, and tight end Tyler Eifert. The two-headed ground attack for the Bengals has produced an average of 128 yards per game so far this season, which has really allowed Dalton to take advantage of his opportunities to throw the ball down the field to Green. But the Dalton-to-Green connection has been there for a while now.

The key for Dalton and the Bengals offense this year, however, seems to be the growth of the offensive line. In the past, Dalton has faced enormous amounts of pressure in the pocket, but this season, the Bengals have one of the lowest sack rates in the entire NFL, as Dalton has only been sacked on 1.7% of pass attempts. This is compared to the league average of 5.6%, which indicates just how solid the play of the offensive line has been.

The proof for the Bengals can only truly come in the playoffs. The Bengals might have the best and most realistic chance to advance deep into the playoffs, and perhaps even plug themselves into the Super Bowl race. Of course, all this hinges on the team’s now undisputed franchise quarterback Andy Dalton.