NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Detroit Lions and 3 Surprise Teams Here to Stay

Every NFL season, there are a couple teams that take the league by storm and remain contenders well into December (and sometimes longer).

Outside of the team's most die-hard fans, most people expect the hot starters to fall back to Earth.

Which surprising teams that have gotten off to quick starts are here to stay? Let's examine.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans were a solid sleeper pick heading into the regular season because of the weak division in which they reside (without Peyton Manning). The fact that they have gotten off to such a good start without the real Chris Johnson could mean big things moving forward.

Matt Hasselbeck is ensuring there will be a delayed start to the Jake Locker era in Tennessee after the prevailing thought was that Locker would take over during the team's Week 6 bye.

It's a two-team race in the AFC South, and the Titans are in it for the long haul.

Final record prediction: 9-7

San Francisco 49ers

Frank Gore finally looked like himself in the 49ers' big comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and Alex Smith is flirting with a 100 quarterback rating. In other words, let the good times roll in the City by the Bay.

The NFC West is weak again in 2011, so San Francisco is already one-third of the way to a division title. If they can pick up a win in one of their two tough games before the bye week, the 49ers will set themselves up perfectly for their first playoff trip since 2002.

Final record prediction: 9-7

Detroit Lions

A lot of fans expected the Lions to be much improved this season and likely contend for a playoff spot. A far smaller number could have seen this red-hot start coming.

With wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys already on their résumé, it's hard to see them faltering anytime soon.

The past couple seasons in Detroit have been defined by one word—if. If Matthew Stafford can stay healthy. If the rookie class can have a big impact.

But there's a new word in town—can. Can they outlast the Green Bay Packers? Can they make a deep playoff run?

And with each passing week, there is a better chance of the answer being yes.

Final record prediction: 11-5

Tim Daniels' Week 5 NFL Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Detroit Lions
3. New England Patriots
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Houston Texans
6. New Orleans Saints
7. San Diego Chargers
8. New York Giants
9. Tennessee Titans
10. San Francisco 49ers
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12. Buffalo Bills
13. Washington Redskins
14. Atlanta Falcons
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
17. Chicago Bears
18. Oakland Raiders
19. New York Jets
20. Cincinnati Bengals
21. Cleveland Browns
22. Philadelphia Eagles
23. Carolina Panthers
24. Arizona Cardinals
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
26. Denver Broncos
27. Seattle Seahawks
28. Kansas City Chiefs
29. Miami Dolphins
30. St. Louis Rams
31. Indianapolis Colts
32. Minnesota Vikings