Poll: Which 3-1 team is most surprising?

Through four weeks, the NFL landscape has developed in surprising ways that prognosticators and fans alike couldn't have imagined.

The dormant Los Angeles Rams offense is now among the league's most explosive, the Buffalo Bills have a playoff-caliber defense, and the Detroit Lions are continuing to play the role of the NFL's resident cardiac kids for a second straight year.

All of this begets the question: which 3-1 team is the most surprising?

Ed. note: To be clear, we're not including unanimous Super Bowl contenders in the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, or Atlanta Falcons.

The case for each team

Buffalo Bills

Beleaguered fans of this franchise are weary of the team's 3-1 start as the team still holds the NFL's longest active playoff drought, but there's reason to Billieve, again.

Tre'Davious White has showed off star potential through his first four games and has definitely proven worthy of his first-round selection, earning Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September. LeSean McCoy has been among the NFL's best running backs once again, and while the passing game hasn't been eye-popping, Tyrod Taylor has managed an efficient aerial attack despite the lack of name-brand receivers.

When the Bills traded Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby, many believed the team would be accelerating their rebuild. It appears, for the time being, the Bills are smashing that notion to smithereens, leading the AFC East through Oct. 1.

Carolina Panthers

Carolina was arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL last year, and some predicted a bounce back season. However, the method in which the Panthers have become 3-1 is the most surprising of all the candidates listed.

No one knows what to expect from this mercurial Panthers team. After handily defeating the lowly 49ers in Week 1, the Panthers escaped with a 9-3 victory over the Bills, where both teams submitted tepid, uninspired offensive displays. The Panthers were routed by the Saints in Week 3, then responded with a last-second victory over the defending champion Patriots, after seeing a 14-point fourth quarter lead evaporate.

Cam Newton doesn't look anywhere near his 2015 MVP form, while the defense vacillates from dominant to indifferent, making it next to impossible to get a read on this club.

Denver Broncos

Two years removed from a victory in Super Bowl 50, many predicted the Broncos' rapid demise, in large part due to Trevor Siemian's shaky play at quarterback last year. Siemian's numbers haven't been eye-popping but he's thrown seven touchdowns against four interceptions, while a robust running attack led by C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles have made the Broncos more potent than anyone realized.

Defense seldom makes headlines, but the Broncos still possess a world-class unit. Von Miller, Chris Harris, and Aqib Talib are all in All-Pro form once again, while the Broncos have also received strong contributions from Shelby Harris, Derek Wolfe, and Shaq Barrett. Make no mistake, the Broncos won't ever be an aesthetic dream, but they continue to make their imprint known.

Detroit Lions

The Lions were expected to be a prime regression candidate after setting an NFL record with eight fourth-quarter comeback wins last season. Detroit is proving to be no fluke, however, with Matthew Stafford running a smooth aerial game.

Detroit's secondary has been opportunistic, recording seven interceptions through three games, while giving Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum nothing to throw at during Sunday's 14-7 win. Heading into Week 4, Quandre Diggs was ranked as the 4th-best cornerback in the league by Pro Football Focus and he could be in for a star turn this fall. The Lions have cultivated a reputation as a tough out, with their lone loss to the Falcons marred by a controversial, last-second decision.

The Lions still have a difficult schedule to navigate in their final 12 games, but they've proven to be better than the sum of their parts thus far.

Los Angeles Rams

What a difference coaching makes. Sean McVay has proven to be the real deal and has been integral to Jared Goff's rapid development during his sophomore season. The Rams were once defined by their putrid offense, but that's no longer the case.

Todd Gurley is back to top form after struggling in his second season and has scored seven touchdowns through four games. Gurley was the team's leading rusher and receiver during Sunday's 35-30 victory over the Cowboys, and like Goff, perhaps all he needed was a new voice in his ear.

The Rams had been marred by rampant distractions and a lack of offensive innovation, making this year's team vastly different from last year's iteration.

Philadelphia Eagles

No one expected the NFC East to turn into the frenetic, turbulent division that it has rapidly become. The Eagles have emerged atop the division in large part due to Carson Wentz's steady development, while using their running backs and wide receivers by committee to jump to a 3-1 record.

Perhaps it was due to a lack of star power - along with Wentz's putrid second half in 2016 - that the Eagles had been written off as potential NFC East contenders.