NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Which Up and Coming Teams Are on Their Way Up?

Taking a look at the power rankings entering Week 4 of the NFL regular season, the Green Bay Packers are right where they are expected to be, at the top, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons continue to drop having under performed thus far.  However, there are three notable teams who have surprised early on who are slowly climbing their way up the power rankings ladder.  These three teams who have exceeded expectations by over achieving are the Buffalo Bills (3-0), the Detroit Lions (3-0) and the Oakland Raiders (2-1).

The Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999, they finished the 2010 season 4-12, and they traded away one of their top offensive weapons in wide receiver Lee Evans during preseason.  Entering 2011, there was no reason to think that Buffalo Bills would be much improved from recent years, which is why they found themselves near the bottom of every power ranking to start the season.

Headed into Week 4 though, the Bills have, so far, proved their critics wrong, going 3-0 in their first three games, which includes a notable upset over the New England Patriots.  Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been impressive, beating out Tom Brady for NFC player of the month, and wide receiver Stevie Johnson, along with running back Fred Jackson, have assisted in leading their dynamic offense.

With the Cincinnati Bengals as their opponent in Week 4, the Bills have a good shot of keeping the streak alive.

The Detroit Lions

The Lions are another team who have not made the playoffs since 1999.  In 2008, the Lions entered the history books as the first NFL team to ever go 0-16 in a season.  In 2009, they improved by two wins, going 2-14 and in 2010 the team went 6-10.

Will 2011 finally be the year the Lions turn it around?  Coming into this season, many knew that the Lion's had the pieces to be a successful football team.  However, as everyone knows it's one thing to actually live up to expectations.  So far the Lions are doing this, as they are 3-0 for the first time since 1980.  However, Detroit still has a lot to prove considering their wins aren't exactly against stellar teams.  They're three wins have come over 0-3 Minnesota, 0-3 Kansas City and 2-1 Tampa Bay.

Finally having a healthy quarterback in Matt Stafford, to go along with one of the leagues' elite wide receivers in Calvin Johnson, the Lions have a good shot at making the playoffs.

The Oakland Raiders

Running back Darren McFadden has been phenomenal, leading the league in rushing over the first three games and the Oakland Raiders are 2-1 heading into Week 4.  The Raiders only loss thus far into the season was a three point defeat by the 3-0 Buffalo Bills during Week 2.  Hoping to prove their worth, they face a big test this week playing at home against New England Patriots. If the Raiders can pull of the win some may begin to believe the hype.

Having missed the past eight consecutive playoffs, the Raiders are leading their division early and will likely battle it out with San Diego for the a chance at a playoff berth.

Honorable Mentions

Other teams receiving honorable mention as surprises thus far into the season include the Cleveland Browns (2-1), the Washington Redskins (2-1) and the San Francisco 49ers (2-1).  The reason that these three teams received honorable mention is because last season between the three of them they started out a combined 1-8 and they all finished the year with losing records, so 2-1 is an improvement.  Unfortunately, the quality of wins that these three teams have so far this year explains why they did not make it past honorable mention.  The Browns' two wins came against the 0-3 Colts and 0-3 Dolphins, and their loss was to the 1-2 Bengals.  The 49ers two wins were against the 0-3 Seahawks and 1-2 Bengals, again low quality opponents.  The Redskins two wins, which are the most notable of the three teams, came against the 2-1 Giants and the 1-2 Arizona Cardinals.