A new order of power might be emerging in the NFL after only four weeks. Who would have thought it would include the Tennessee Titans, the Buffalo Bills and perhaps even the Ravens?
Well, Jeff Fisher, Dick Jauron and John Harbaugh, that's who.
"I think every coach in the league believes they can win every game," Jauron, the Bills' coach, said during a national conference call this week. "You have got to believe. If you don't, I don't see how your guys can. Did I think we would start 4-0? I guess I would say yes."
One month into the season, the Titans and Bills are undefeated and the Ravens easily could have been after taking the Steelers to overtime in Pittsburgh.
The Titans-Ravens game Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium just missed being a battle of unbeatens. Even with the Ravens' loss Monday, it figures to be a showdown of elite defenses, if not a grudge match left over from a bitter rivalry when the teams played in the same division.
"You expect to get off to a good start," said Fisher, the Titans' coach. "And we've been fortunate that we've been protecting the football and have found ways to win. But we're not surprised. We're kind of all about that 'one week at a time' thing."
Still, no one would have expected the Titans (4-0) to lead the AFC South, ahead of the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, or the Bills to lead the AFC East, ahead of the New England Patriots, or the Ravens (2-1) to push the Steelers with a rookie quarterback.
Let's take a look at how the season's three biggest surprises got to this point.
Titans (4-0)
The fall: : Strapped by salary cap issues, Tennessee started dismantling its playoff roster after the 2003 season and won only nine of the next 28 games. Derrick Mason, Samari Rolle - both released - and eventually Steve McNair (traded) all made their way to Baltimore while the Titans crashed. After a 12-4 playoff season in 2003, they went 5-11 and 4-12 the next two years.
The changes: : Floyd Reese, fired as general manager after the 2006 season, started the turnaround that year when he drafted quarterback Vince Young, fullback LenDale White, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Cortland Finnegan. All except Young will start Sunday. Reese added veteran leadership in free agency with center Kevin Mawae, linebacker David Thornton and safety Chris Hope.
Mike Reinfeldt, Reese's successor, made 17 draft picks the past two years, and 13 are on the roster. He took running back Chris Johnson (2008) and safety Michael Griffin (2007) in the first round.
