Just three years after going 0-16, the Detroit Lions are 3-0 and tied for first place in the NFC North. The Buffalo Bills just snapped a 15 game losing streak to the New England Patriots and are 3-0 in sole custody of first place in the AFC East. Even a casual football fan has to be taken aback by the absurdity of my previous statement, and the fact that it’s true is even more surprising.

The season so far has been loaded with surprises, both good and bad (well that depends on who your team is). Although professional sports are virtually unpredictable, unless you travel to the future and return with a Sports Almanac (1980s Michael J. Fox movie reference), this season in the NFL has been anything but predictable. Only 3 weeks into the season and the league seems nothing like it was one year ago.

The Indianapolis Colts are 0-3 and in last place in the AFC South. More importantly, however, the saga of Peyton Manning’s return is only getting more and more confusing. At this point in his rehab, there is a chance Manning may be done for the season, and there are those who are calling for him to retire. Could we have seen the last of Peyton Manning in a Colts’ uniform? Without Manning at the helm, where will the Colts go from here? With only one Super Bowl ring, will Manning be among the elite QBs we’ve seen? Are all these questions way to soon?

Cam Newton, the guy who was labeled not ready for the NFL, and who scouts said had a weak arm and poor mechanics. Yes, that guy, has already thrown for over one-thousand yards and has 4 TD passes on the season. Although his yardage decreased dramatically in Week 3, there are a few important statistics to note after this past game: Newton did not throw a single interception, he was not sacked once, and he led his team to a win (the most important stat of all). Could the emergence of Cam Newton really happen this quickly? Are we seeing a star rising or is this just a flare up that will fizzle soon?

The Buffalo Bills are in first place in the NFC East and doing so with a QB and RB who didn’t play football for an FBS team. Their QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick played college ball at Harvard (Although I am indoctrinated to loathe Harvard, as a fellow Ivy Leaguer I must admire Fitzpatrick for representing the Ivy League in the NFL), and Fred Jackson, their leading rusher, played football at Coe College (I had to look it up on google also), a Division III program. More importantly, they were able to defeat the Tom Brady led New England Patriots to make a statement that they are for real in the division (Still doubtful though). Are we seeing a new top dog in the AFC East? Are the Bills for real? Are the Patriots on their way out?

The Detroit Lions are also 3-0 and tied for first place in the NFC North, and have done so with a blueprint that should be revered and labeled extremely smart and strategic. What is the key to their success? The answer is quite simple but takes time to develop: Good drafting. Their core is centered around a plethora of former first round draft picks who now play impact roles on the field including: WR Calvin Johnson (2007), OT Gosder Cherilus (2008), QB Matthew Stafford (2009), TE Brandon Pettigrew (2009), RB Jahvid Best (2010), DT Ndamukng Suh (2010), and DT Nick Fairley (2011). The Lions are a very young team and they should only get better as their talent matures (This Blueprint could make Jay-Z jealous). The only thing standing in their way of ascending to the top of the NFC North is the team that all still must bow down to; the Aaron Rodgers led Green Bay Packers. Is this the new power struggle in the NFC North? Are the Lions for real?

Don’t have heart attacks people, there may a lot of crazy surprises this year in the NFL, but there is still a lot that we did expect, and the league hasn’t completely 180’d just yet. The defending Super Bowl Champs are 3-0 and still the team to beat. Quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are still setting the standard for the elite leaders of their respective teams. The NFC East is once again going to be the most competitive division in the NFL, and we may not know the clear favorite until the last week or two. There are still numerous players getting fined for illegal hits (then complaining about it in postgame interviews, or twitter). Wes Welker is still the Slot Machine, hauling in more receptions than anyone else; still the blue-collar productive player who never complains and always comes through when you need him to (and the only player in the NFL who is shorter than the person interviewing him after games). And, of course, the name “Ochocinco” can still be read on the back of a jersey (sizzling bacon action, this is ESPN).

However, there is one thing that we can all agree on and rest assured in, and that is that we’re still only 3 games into the 2011 season, and there is no way we can predict what will happen from here on out.