NFL Power Rankings Week 2: 4 Teams Rising Fast

From the time when the initial preseason NFL power rankings came out, there weren't too many significant changes up until after Week 1.

Recently released was Week 2 by ESPN, and the author's own are at the end of this slideshow.

That being said, there are more than a few teams on the rise this season, but here are four that are quickly coming of age in this young but jubilant 2011 NFL season.

Houston Texans

In many preseason rankings the Texans were commonly put in the middle of the pack, but they were also a team that had a ton of potential to breakout.

Well, as evidenced by their Week 1 performance, they've not only broken out, but they are poised to run the table in the AFC South.

It's been a long time coming for the residents of Houston, Texas, and after being left out to dry when their beloved Oilers bolted for Tennessee, the Texans have revived the city and it's fans.

This week Houston travels to Miami to face a weak Dolphins' pass defense, and it appears that another epic opposing offensive performance could be in motion.

Detroit Lions

After an upset win over the 2010 10-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in The Sombrero, the 2011 Detroit Lions have a lot of promise.

They have a healthy quarterback in Matthew Stafford, and combined with an array of targets including wide receiver Calvin Johnson, as well as an improving defense, The Motor City is pumped.

In Week 2, the Kansas City Chiefs come for a visit to Ford Field, so it should be interesting if Ndamukong Suh and company can keep running back Jamaal Charles and the 2010 AFC West champs under wraps, as the Buffalo Bills did in Week 1.

Speaking of the Buffalo Bills... 

Buffalo Bills

Virtually no one outside of the Bills' organization saw the 41-7 smashing Buffalo put on at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Bills are an improved team, yes, but a complete all-encompassing dominance of the 2010 AFC West champions was nothing short of pure pandemonium (in a good way).

That being said, this week the Bills welcome the Oakland Raiders who also have an established rushing attack with running back Darren McFadden.

With the Silver and Black trying to rise on their own, it won't be easy for the Bills to start out 2-0.

However, an encore performance from Week 1 will surely do the trick and make Buffalo a serious early-season contender.

Chicago Bears

After the way in which the 2010 season finished in The Windy City, quarterback Jay Cutler was under fire for the better part of the 2011 offseason.

Well, he answered his critics with a solid performance in Week 1 against the 2010 NFC South Champion Atlanta Falcons.

The defense also played tremendous, not allowing a touchdown by the highly-talented Atlanta offense.

This week the Bears will travel down south to The Big Easy and face the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints are a better team with a better offense and quarterback than Atlanta, but Chicago has confidence.

It's be interesting to see if they can keep their momentum rolling.

Complete NFL Power Rankings

2011 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (LW 1)

2. New England Patriots (LW 2)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (LW 3)

4. Baltimore Ravens (LW 7)

5. New York Jets (LW 5)

6. New Orleans Saints (LW 4)

7. Houston Texans (LW 13)

8. San Diego Chargers (LW 10)

9. Chicago Bears (LW 14)

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (LW 6)

11. Atlanta Falcons (LW 8)

12. Detroit Lions (LW 17)

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW 9)

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (LW 21)

15. Dallas Cowboys (LW 16)

16. New York Giants (LW 11)

17. Indianapolis Colts (LW 12)

18. Arizona Cardinals (LW 23)

19. St. Louis Rams (LW 18)

20. Buffalo Bills (LW 28)

21. Kansas City Chiefs (LW 15)

22. Washington Redskins (LW 29)

23. Oakland Raiders (LW 26)

24. San Francisco 49ers (LW 24)

25. Miami Dolphins (LW 19)

26. Carolina Panthers (LW 31)

27. Cincinnati Bengals (LW 32)

28. Tennessee Titans (LW 25)

29. Minnesota Vikings (LW 20)

30. Denver Broncos (LW 22)

31. Seattle Seahawks (LW 30)

32. Cleveland Browns (LW 27)

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report.

And, you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.