NFL Power Rankings: Buffalo Bills and 3 Teams Whose Hot Starts Won't Last

The more we try to understand the NFL, the less we actually know about it. This season has been a series of ups-and-downs for all 32 teams. Even the winless teams have had short bursts of excitement and could have at least one win this season.

The fascinating thing when looking at the records of all these teams is how close together they all are. There are 14 teams that have two or three wins. That means there is either a lot of parity or mediocrity in the league this season, depending on your perspective.

Still, we must plug along and determine which teams are going to cool off after starting the season red hot.

Here are three early-season surprises who won't keep up their high level of play later in the year.

No. 5 Buffalo Bills

I am a fan of Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Fred Jackson has become a stud running back in just five weeks. But the defense leaves me feeling uneasy about how good this team really is. The Bills have played a good schedule, but all their "hard" games so far have been at home.

They have a three-game stretch in November where they play at Dallas, at Miami and at New York. If they can come out of that stretch with at least two wins, they will have earned the respect that they are getting right now.

The offense is going to have to pick up the defense the rest of the season if they want to make it to the playoffs. So far the results have been encouraging, but how you finish is more important than how you start.

No. 9 Washington Redskins

Of all the surprises in the NFC East, the biggest surprise is the start the Redskins have gotten off to. The Eagles have been a disappointment, but we knew there were certain areas of the game they would struggle.

On the other hand, no one expected the Redskins to start October in first-place in the division. But don't count on the fast start lasting all season.

Rex Grossman is still the starting quarterback, and he is bound to fall off a cliff at some point in the near future.

The defense has played well, but it's not like they have been playing dynamic offenses. The three wins have come against the Giants, Cardinals and Rams.

The NFC East is wide open right now, but the Redskins are not going to stay on top the whole season.

No. 12 Houston Texans

We have all been fooled by the Texans yet again. Just when we think this team is about to turn a corner, they pull the rug out from under us.

For example, their game against Oakland in Week 5. They outgained the Raiders 473-278 and held Darren McFadden to just 51 rushing yards. But Matt Schaub threw two bad interceptions, including one at the goal-line to end the game.

The Texans might be the best team in the AFC South this season, but they are not going to be a factor in the playoffs, if they even get there.

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