NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Surpassing All Expectations?

Heading into the 2011 NFL regular season, it was easy to pick and choose which teams would get off to a hot start and which teams would continue their struggling ways.

Ahead are eight teams ranked by how they are in the standings as of now compared to the expectations they had coming into the season.

8. Green Bay Packers (7-0)

It is difficult to say the defending Super Bowl champions are exceeding expectations, but Aaron Rogers is playing at a level we haven't witnessed since Tom Brady's 2007 50-touchdown season.

Rogers is off to the best start of his career, posting a 71 percent completion percentage, while throwing 20 touchdowns to only three interceptions. Not only is Rogers posting a career year, but the defense is playing a bend-but-don't-break style despite numerous injuries.

The Green Bay Packers have handily defeated the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears on the way to a perfect record.

7. Carolina Panthers (2-5)

Yes, the Carolina Panthers have only two wins, but did you know they had only two wins in all of 2010?

The Panthers made significant upgrades on their offense and defense, but the smooth transition Cam Newton has made into the NFL is what has surprised most.

Newton is keeping the Panthers in games, giving them an opportunity to win and showing incredible progress.

6. Tennessee Titans (3-3)

The Tennessee Titans brought in a new head coach and new quarterback after coming off a miserable 6-10 2010 season.

The team was headed toward disaster, but the resurgence from a veteran quarterback and solid defensive players have made the difference.

Matt Hasselbeck is off to the best start in recent years and that is without virtually any production from $53-million man Chris Johnson.

After reeling off three-straight wins, Tennessee has lost their last two, but they are still only half a game behind the Houston Texans for first place in the AFC South.

5. Oakland Raiders (4-3)

Darren McFadden and a physical Oakland Raiders unit have come out swinging for the 2011 regular season.

The Raiders finished 8-8 in 2010, but with significant victories over the New York Jets and Houston Texans, Oakland is staying in contention for the AFC West crown.

How Carson Palmer plays the rest of the way will determine just how far this team can go.

4. Detroit Lions (5-2)

In a division with the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings it is easy to be overlooked.

Many analysts picked the Detroit Lions to finally make the jump into the postseason this year and they look on track to do so. While many picked them to make the "jump," no one could have predicted them looking this good.

Calvin Johnson, otherwise known as "Megatron," has been virtually unstoppable, as he and Matt Stafford are becoming quite the dynamic duo. The Lions feisty defensive line has been overlooked and Ndamukong Suh is becoming a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)

In 2010 Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco were paired up, Carson Palmer had given up, and it was unsure if Marvin Lewis would have a job through the 2011 season.

Little did we know that the three star players would be jettisoned out, rookies AJ Green and Andy Dalton would become two of the best rookies to play this year and the Cincinnati Bengals would only be half a game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North.

2. Buffalo Bills (4-2)

Fred Jackson, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Steve Johnson are making magic in Buffalo, New York. 

Jackson is the NFL's second leading rusher and both Johnson and Fitzpatrick are in the top 10 for their respective positions.

After finishing 4-12 last season, the future looked bleak at best, but the Buffalo Bills have beaten the Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, and most importantly division-rival New England Patriots on their way to contention in the AFC East.

1. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)

Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers are producing one of the better seasons out of Candlestick Park in recent years.

The NFC West was the brunt of most jokes last season after allowing a losing team, the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks, into the playoffs, but this Niners team gives analysts nothing to joke about. 

Smith has eight touchdowns to only two interceptions in six games and holds wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. The Niners have the No. 2 rush defense in the league and are looking to run away with the division title for the first time since 2002.