Few expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to share the NFC South lead at this point in the season. Even fewer would have predicted Tampa Bay would be alone atop the division at the halfway point of the season.
But that's exactly where the Bucs will find themselves if they can pull off a road upset Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Tampa Bay (5-2) continued its surprising start last week with a 38-35 win at Arizona, pulling even with the Falcons (5-2) in the division standings while Atlanta was on its bye week.
The Bucs certainly haven't made it look easy. They've won four games by three points or less, including the past two by a combined four points.
Tampa Bay's offense has added some punch with rookie LeGarrette Blount emerging as the team's top running back. Blount had a career-high 120 yards and two touchdowns last week, giving him 196 rushing yards over the past two games.
Blount isn't the only rookie excelling for Tampa Bay's offense. Receiver Mike Williams leads all rookies with 32 receptions for 470 yards and four touchdowns.
Williams has become the go-to receiver for Josh Freeman, who has blossomed into a solid quarterback in his second year. Freeman has passed for 1,533 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions.
Freeman led the Bucs on a seven-play, 74-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter for the winning score last week, the sixth fourth-quarter comeback win of his brief career.
Atlanta knows all about having success with a young quarterback - Matt Ryan led the Falcons to the playoffs as a rookie in 2008 and he has them poised to return this season after a one-year hiatus.
Ryan has thrown for 1,714 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, and he has continued his excellent play at home - he is 16-1 as a starter at the Georgia Dome and has won 12 straight home starts.
A crucial component to Ryan's success this season has been his rapport with receiver Roddy White, who leads the league with 54 catches for an NFC-best 747 yards and five touchdowns. White had 201 yards in Atlanta's last game, a 39-32 win against Cincinnati in Week 7.
Ryan and the Falcons will have to be concerned about a Bucs defense that is tied for the NFC lead with a plus-eight turnover margin, in large part because of cornerback Aqib Talib's five interceptions, which ranks second in the league.
The key for the Bucs could be stopping Atlanta's running game, led by Michael Turner (587 yards, 3 TDs). Tampa Bay ranks 30th in the league against the run, allowing 149.4 yards per game.
The Falcons have won the past three meetings, including both games last season.