The St. Louis Rams weren't supposed to be challenging for anything more than a second consecutive top overall pick in the 2011 draft.
After winning just one game in 2009, St. Louis (6-6) has split its first 12 contests this season and shares the NFC West lead with the Seattle Seahawks.
So, just how improved are the Rams?
Well, St. Louis will receive the ultimate litmus test on Sunday when it travels to the French Quarter to face the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints (9-3).
Winners of two in a row, the Rams have been relying on the rugged rushing power of Steven Jackson and the rapidly maturing Sam Bradford.
Jackson rushed 28 times for 102 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown, as St. Louis rumbled to a 19-6 victory over division rival Cardinals last weekend. The 27-year-old Jackson has an NFC-best 260 carries to go along with his 985 yards and four scores this season.
With 15 more yards, Jackson will secure his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign.
Considering that the Saints struggle against opposing ground attacks, Jackson will likely gain much more than that on Sunday.
The top overall pick of the 2010 draft, Bradford is also providing hope in the Gateway City. The 23-year-old had thrown 10 touchdowns in his last five games prior to last Sunday's modest showing against the woebegone Cardinals.
Bradford has completed 268 passes - good enough for seventh best this season. If you're scoring at home, that's more than Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and New England's Tom Brady.
Unfortunately for the Rams, Drew Brees will be on the other sideline - and the reigning Super Bowl MVP has guided the Saints to five straight victories to keep his club hot on the heels of the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons (10-2).
Brees tossed a pair of scoring strikes - including one to Marques Colston with 31 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter - as New Orleans posted a 34-30 victory over the bumbling Cincinnati Bengals last weekend.
The Saints' all-time leading passer, Brees surpassed Archie Manning for the honor on Sunday. Brees finished his day by completing 24 of 29 passes for 313 yards.
Chris Ivory continues to carry the load in the absence of Pierre Thomas. The rookie standout rushed for a pair of scores - including a 55-yard scamper - while piling up 117 yards on just 15 carries.
As for Thomas, he had been inactive for nine straight games with a badly sprained left ankle, but, practice permitting, is expected to return to the field on Sunday.
While New Orleans' offense was in high gear, its disciplined play - or lack thereof - was called into question last weekend.
The Saints were flagged 11 times for 100 yards, but still managed to overcome the lowly Bengals.