It has been three weeks since the start of the 2011 NFL season, and thus far we have seen our share of surprises, upsets and letdowns.
Only three teams remain undefeated after three weeks of play. Five teams, including two of last years' division winners, are still without a win.
The Colts, Chiefs, Rams, Vikings, and Dolphins continue to search for their first win in week four, while the Bills, Lions and defending super bowl champion Packers look to reach 4-0 at the end of the upcoming weekend.
Firstly, the most talked about three-week performance in the young season has to be Tom Brady. Arguably the architect of the most dominant three-game surge in the history of the National Football League, Brady has set a new league record compiling 1,327 passing yards his first three games.
His 11 passing touchdowns ranks first among all quarterbacks, but his resume is slandered by the five interceptions he has thrown (ranks second most interceptions this season) and his team's loss to the Buffalo Bills this past Sunday.
Overall, the Patriots are sitting at 2-1, one game behind the 3-0 Bills in the AFC East, and maintaining a positive outlook for another dominant season.
After touching on Brady's one-man dominance, we move on to discuss the football team surrounded by the most buzz after just three games. Undoubtedly, the most talked about franchise so far has to be the Detroit Lions, a team that in recent years could not win a single football game (going 0-16 in 2008 and 2-14 in 2009), is in the midst of a massive rebuilding process. After drafting a franchise quarterback who is finally healthy in his third season and a physical freak of a wide receiver, the Lions currently share the top spot in the NFC North with a 3-0 record.
If Matthew Stafford, in his third season since being drafted out of the University of Georgia, can stay healthy and remain taking snaps under center, and Calvin Johnson (in his fifth Georgia Tech season), can continue to haul in every ball thrown in his direction, the Lions are on track for a brilliant season.
With Jahvid Best running the ball and the consistent offensive line play we have seen the past three weeks, this year's team has the ability for a big threat play on the ground or in the air.
To top it all off their defense has been dominant. A front four led by the powerful defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and rookie Nick Fairley being active for week four, the remainder of the season looks nothing but positive for the young and talented Lions.
Surprisingly, all four defending NFC division winners have started their season 1-2. The Eagles, Falcons, Bears and Seahawks have gotten off to a rough start.
On the flipside, certain players and teams such as the Oakland Raiders have been a pleasant surprise.
Raiders running back Darren McFadden recorded 171 yards on only 19 carries this past week, and all of it came against the run stopping New York Jets defense.
The Baltimore Ravens also saw a spark in their offense from the first round pick, rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith. The Ravens need a viable deep threat with the rifle of a right arm Joe Flacco carries around the field with him.
Smith provided just that, catching his first three professional passes all for touchdowns.
The Green Bay Packers do not have much to improve on after winning the Super Bowl last season but they have seen a surge in play from their athletic tight end Jermichael Finley.
Unstoppable in the red zone, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers found Finley seven times, recording three touchdowns and three first downs.
While for some teams the bright and youthful season looks promising, some seem as though the season cannot come to a close soon enough. The Miami Dolphins have seen poor quarterback play from Chad Henne and cannot even buy a win.
The Chicago Bears are having serious offensive line problems and cannot protect their quarterback. Jay Cutler has already been knocked down more in this season than Tom Brady or Philip Rivers were all of last season. They will need to rely on their running game of Matt Forte and Lovie Smith-led defense.
A big theme this year has also been injuries. Some big name players have been suffering and struggling to stay healthy. Guys like the Eagles' Michael Vick, the Rams' Stephen Jackson, the New York Football Giants' Osi Umenyiora, the Titans' Kenny Britt and the Chiefs' Jamaal Charles are all integral components of their team's success and all of whom are having trouble staying on the field.
Overall, the season looks promising, even after a summer lockout and a new collective bargaining agreement.
The division races are heating up and old and new rivalries have begun to develop. We will see if teams can stay hot and if others can turn it around before it gets too late. But all in all, it's nice to see that football is back and in full swing.
