NFL Power Rankings: Most Surprising Teams at Season's Quarter Mark

The first four weeks of the NFL season have already provided some great moments. So far this season has been full of great comebacks, redemption, unlikely heroes, bad injuries and much more. And to think that a lockout could have deprived us of all this.

The NFL has trumped one of the best baseball Septembers in recent decades along with the first round of the MLB playoffs. Football is king after all in the US because of the action and intrigue.

Whether it's sleeper teams sitting pretty in their division or teams who are under-achieving and are in the bottom of theirs, this quarter season has been full of surprises.

Here are six teams whose storylines you must follow for the rest of the season.

The Emergence of the 49ers Under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh

After coming from behind and scoring 21 points in the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers are now 3-1 and are atop of their division by two games.

Even though they are playing in the division that sent a sub .500 team to the playoffs for the first time in NFL history last year, the 49ers are playing well. If it wasn't for an overtime loss in Week 2 to the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers would be undefeated.

Since being drafted first overall in the 2005 draft Alex Smith has been a pretty big disappointment, but late in the game Smith showed composure to lead the comeback. Smith, along with running back Frank Gore, tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree, has been an important part for the offense, who has struggled at times.

Despite not being ranked very high offensively in the NFL, they have the fourth best run defense in the league. This helps their 27th ranked pass defense. 

The Niners obviously haven't been flashy or dominant, but right now they are creating a splash in the NFC. If the rest of their division continues to struggle mightily to get some wins then then they could be making a postseason appearance. 

Redskins Sit Atop of the NFC East

After getting rid of under achieving defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and quarterback Donovan McNabb this offseason the Washington Redskins had to figure out how they were going to replace these players.

The Redskins who have finished under .500 the past two years and have not made a playoff appearance in three years have struggled because of the inconsistencies that lie at the quarterback position.

Who would have thought that Rex Grossman would step up in the first few weeks of the season? Despite not doing well in yesterday's win against the Rams, "Sexy Rexy" has played above many people's expectations.

His performance against the New York Giants was a major reason why the Redskins were able to get that crucial Week 1 victory. That win against the Giants might have set the tone for the rest of the season.

Grossman along with running back Tim Hightower will need to remain consistent if they want to keep winning ball games. Hightower has been a crucial part of their offense and is responsible for the Redskins being the sixth best rushing offense in the NFL.

The NFC East race is far from over, and no one should count out the Philadelphia Eagles or the Dallas Cowboys just yet. 

The Skins have a bye next week, but they will have a very important game against the Eagles in Week 6 who will seek to get back in the NFC East race. This game will be a good indication of whether they can remain competitive for the rest of the year. 

The Tennessee Titans Are Relevant in AFC South

No Vince Young. No Jeff Fisher. Almost no running game. No problem?

Who would have thought that the Titans had any chance to succeed this year?

It seemed very unlikely after the let go of their once franchise quarterback Vince Young. Then, the only head coach in the franchise's history, Jeff Fisher resigned in January. And then their star running back Chris Johnson decided to holdout through training camps and a few preseason games until he got paid. 

Even the Titans fans were feeling pretty iffy about this season.

But with first year coach Mike Munchak and the rebirth of quarterback Matt Hasselback the Titans are 3-1 and tied for the top of the division with the Houston Texans.

They have been able to do this despite Chris Johnson being relatively ineffective. Their rush offense ranks dead last in the NFL. And the Titans are still 3-1?! 

The defense and Matt Hasselback have really carried this team. Hasselback ranks 8th in the NFL with 280 passing yards per game.

Although they have to try and overcome an impressive Houston Texans team, who knows what might happen? An injury that might last up to three weeks to Texans' star wide receiver Andre Johnson might benefit the Titans greatly as they seek to stay in the playoff hunt in the upcoming weeks.

The Titans will face huge challenges next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the division rival Texans in Week 7. These next few games will determine if they're for real.

The Undefeated Detroit Lions

If there is any team that has paid their dues it's the Detroit Lions. After an 0-16 season in 2008 and a 2-14 season in 2009 and 10 straight sub .500 seasons, the Lions might have return to legitimacy this year.

The Lions are now 4-0 and are atop of their division with the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers after yesterday's remarkable win against the Dallas Cowboys.

In the past two weeks the Lions were able to orchestrate comebacks of 20-plus points which was the first time that has happened in NFL history.

First they were able pull off a 26-23 overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings and yesterday they were able to get two defensive touchdowns that helped them comeback against Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

At the center of their resurgence is quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Both have played extremely well, but Johnson especially has been unreal. He has been able to catch almost everything in his general vicinity.

Johnson who is one of the best, if not the best, wide outs in the NFL has scored two touchdowns each of the past four weeks. He is on a pace to shatter Randy Moss' record of 23 touchdown receptions in one season. 

Many people knew they were going to improve this season, but no one thought that they would be doing this well.

The Lions will continue to give the Green Bay Packers a run for their money for the NFC North title. 

Their next game is against their NFC North rival Chicago Bears. This matchup will be another opportunity to prove their legitimate NFC playoff contenders.

Dream Team? Dream On.

The Philadelphia Eagles have under-achieved. Period.

With all the hype that surrounded their squad and with the talks of a "Dream Team," the Eagles put a big bulls eye on their backs before the season even started.

After the first week and their whooping of the St. Louis Rams, they looked like a team to be reckoned with. Things have certainly changed in three weeks. Three consecutive fourth quarter collapses to the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers have put them at the bottom of the NFC East.

The panic meter is up in Philly and Michael Vick is "frustrated."

Despite having the second best rushing attack and ninth best passing attack so far, the Eagles have found themselves at 1-3 because of these fourth quarter collapses.

A major concern the team has faced is whether quarterback Michael Vick can stay healthy. He has had to leave two games prematurely due to injury. 

Without a consistent and healthy Michael Vick as well as a consistent offensive line the Eagles have no chance to right the wrongs that have occurred in the first four games.

Although their struggles have been well documented, the team is too good to roll over and die.

They seek to get their season on the right track next week against those mighty Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo Bills: The Feel Good Story of the Year

No one could have anticipated the success the Bills have had so far this year.

The Bills have given Buffalo a reason to believe. 

Like the Detroit Lions they have also had numerous seasons of mediocrity and sub .500 records. Buffalo fans are hoping that this year is different, and so far they have exceeded their expectations.

After the shalacking they gave the Kansas City Chiefs and a comeback against the Oakland Raiders, the Bills had an AFC East showdown against the New England Patriots.

Going into the week three match up with the Pats they lost 15 straight games to New England. They were able to pick Tom Brady off four times and come back from a 21-point deficit to defeat the Pats on a last second field goal by Bills' kicker Rian Lindell.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and running back Fred Jackson have played major roles in the Bills' early season success.

If it wasn't for a letdown against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bills could easily be 4-0 right now, but as it stands, they are 3-1 as they head to Philadelphia.

This game will prove if they will be able to hang with the Patriots and the New York Jets in the East.

Erick Fernandez is the creator of I Want to Thank My Hood & My Psychiatrist