NFL Power Rankings Week 2: Which Teams Are Surpassing Expectations?

Although it's only been one week, there's already been more than a few teams who have exceeded expectations based on their Week 1 performance.

Obviously each season reveals some teams that do exceed expectations, and there's more to come in 2011.

With that in mind, here are three teams who are currently exceeding expectations, and will continue to do so as the year progresses.

Buffalo Bills

Coming into this season, it was uncertain as to what the Bills brought to the table.

They are no longer with WR Lee Evans, LB Paul Posluszny and safety Donte Whitner, so it was reasonable to suspect that 2011 was going to be a rebuilding year.

Well, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and Co. didn't think to believe in such hogwash, so they came out of the gates like Zenyatta and thrashed the 2010 AFC West Champion Kansas City Chiefs, at Arrowhead Stadium mind you, 41-7.

This week the Bills host the Oakland Raiders, who have trouble winning outside of the AFC West.

And with the Miami Dolphins on the fritz in the AFC East, along with the Jets still struggling to play a full game, Buffalo is quickly rising.

They are definitely surpassing expectations, and don't be surprised to see them in the playoff race.

Jacksonville Jaguars

After releasing QB David Garrard, and no longer having the luxury of WR Mike Sims-Walker outside, it was unexpected to see the Jaguars follow the lead of Josh McCown.

But, he did get them a divisional win in Week 1 over Tennessee, and as long as RB Maurice Jones-Drew keeps rolling, Jacksonville will surely make some noise in 2011.

Adding to it, their defense is actually really, really good, but because it's Jacksonville, they're sneaking under the radar.

In the offseason they acquired LBs Paul Posluszny and Clint Session, and with Aaron Kampman on the defensive line as well as DBs Rashean Mathis and Dawan Landry, head coach Jack Del Rio has something very good brewing.

If there is one team who can compete with the Houston Texans for the AFC South title, it is the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Washington Redskins

 They were expected to be at the bottom of the NFC barrel in 2011, but even though it's only been one week, the Washington Redskins are believing in what head coach Mike Shanahan is selling.

The NFC East victory over rival New York was a big confidence booster, and this week the Redskins could begin 2-0 with a vulnerable Arizona Cardinal team coming by for a visit.

To make matters even better, the Dallas Cowboys are under pressure after the loss in Week 1 to the Jets, so when Week 3 rolls around, be sure to tune in when Washington travels down to Texas.

That Monday night game against Dallas could be very telling as to which direction both franchises are headed, but even more so with Washington as they're still considered to be a weak NFC team.

But regardless of how that game plays out, how the Redskins respond thereafter is more important.

2011 NFL Power Rankings: Week 2

1. Green Bay Packers (1-0) (LW 1)	17. Indianapolis Colts (0-1) (LW 12)
2. New England Patriots (1-0) (LW 2)	18. Arizona Cardinals (1-0) (LW 23)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) (LW 3)	19. St. Louis Rams (0-1) (LW 18)
4. Baltimore Ravens (1-0) (LW 7)	20. Buffalo Bills (1-0) (LW 28)
5. New York Jets (1-0) (LW 5)	21. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) (LW 15)
6. New Orleans Saints (0-1) (LW 4)	22. Washington Redskins (1-0) (LW 29)
7. Houston Texans (1-0) (LW 13)	23. Oakland Raiders (1-0) (LW 26)
8. San Diego Chargers (1-0) (LW 10)	24. San Francisco 49ers (1-0) (LW 24)
9. Chicago Bears (1-0) (LW 14)	25. Miami Dolphins (0-1) (LW 19)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) (LW 6)	26. Carolina Panthers (0-1) (LW 31)
11. Atlanta Falcons (0-1) (LW 8)	27. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) (LW 32)
12. Detroit Lions (1-0) (LW 17)	28. Tennessee Titans (0-1) (LW 25)
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) (LW 9)	29. Minnesota Vikings (0-1) (LW 20)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) (LW 21)	30. Denver Broncos (0-1) (LW 22)
15. Dallas Cowboys (0-1) (LW 16)	31. Seattle Seahawks (0-1) (LW 30)
16. New York Giants (0-1) (LW 11)	32. Cleveland Browns (0-1) (LW 27)

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report.

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