NFL Power Rankings: 5 Winners in Week 2 Games

The NFL's second week of action saw some wild results and some unexpected ups and downs. Some presumed powerhouses have some self-examination to do, and some presumed pussycats have performed like champions.

At this point in the season, it's difficult to tell who's "for real" and who isn't. Some of the surprisingly good (and bad) performances have to be taken with a grain of salt. Like college football polls, it's hard to mark the preseason favorites down if they haven't lost.

So, which five teams made the biggest leaps up the power ranking ladder with strong Week 2 performances?

Houston Texans

We knew the Houston Texans would be good. We figured they'd have an excellent ground game. We knew Andre Johnson was one of the best wide receivers in the world.

But Matt Schaub is playing with Yoda-like awareness, and RB Ben Tate is racking up 4.6 yards per carry in relief of Arian Foster. The Texans easily handled the Peyton-Manning-less Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 and cruised to a 23-13 road win on Sunday.

The Texans didn't make a huge leap up the rankings but have firmly established themselves as a top contender.

San Francisco 49ers

The Tennessee Titans looked like a team in full rebuilding mode last week, as they lost to the struggling Jaguars. Chris Johnson was his usual self, but nothing else seemed to be working.

In Week 2, however, the Titans took on a swaggering Baltimore Ravens team and won 26-13. Though the Ravens dedicated themselves to stopping the run, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw it over their heads to the tune of 358 yards.

Washington Redskins

Though some may be surprised by the inclusion of the Redskins on this list, I personally had them ranked quite low coming into the season. Obvious lack of talent and apparent controversy at the quarterback position never bodes well for a team's chances.

While the Redskins have not played pretty football, quarterback Rex Grossman has done just well enough to eek out two wins. Last I checked, 2-0 is still 2-0.

Detroit Lions

Though the Detroit Lions have been a "sexy" "sleeper" pick of many observers this season, their demolition of the Kansas City Chiefs vaults their 2011 playoff contention from a possibility to a reality.

Combined with their solid road win at Tampa Bay in Week 1, the Lions have to be considered among the NFL's hottest teams.

They are third in the NFL in points allowed, second in points scored and first in point differential.

Buffalo Bills

They say nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. The Bills' dramatic win over the Raiders in Week 2 came courtesy of a 21-point, fourth-quarter explosion.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has amassed an impressive 472 yards and seven touchdowns in just his first two games; that aerial attack is paired with Fred Jackson's impressive 6.5 yard-per-carry rushing average.

Week 3 Power Rankings

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