A derby double over Newcastle and sitting pretty on 43 points with seven games still to play, Regis Le Bris' side have exceeded all expectations.
So can the Black Cats qualify for Europe? How do they approach the summer transfer window? Who was their best signing last summer? And what was the key takeaway from the derby?
Scott Wilson and Dom Shaw discuss:
WHAT WAS YOUR KEY SUNDERLAND TAKEAWAY FROM THE DERBY?
Scott Wilson: That the squad is much deeper than was perhaps envisaged. For much of the season, one of the main questions asked of Sunderland was, 'What happens when key players are missing?' Well, Sunderland started without Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, Reinildo Mandava, Enzo Le Fee and Bertrand Traore at the weekend, but still triumphed against the biggest rivals. The likes of Melker Ellborg, Lutsharel Geertruida and Chris Rigg might not be starters if everyone is fit, but they have proved they are more than capable of plugging gaps in Regis Le Bris' first-choice XI if they arise.
Dom Shaw: That, once again, Regis Le Bris and Sunderland showed they have the handiest knack of rising to the big occasions. The play-offs last year, the derbies this season, the Black Cats and their understated head coach aren't fazed by anything.
The other takeaway - and this has obviously always been the case but I think it was a timely reminder - is that Sunderland's head coach is elite. He wasn't afraid to leave out Sunderland's returning stars such as Nordi Mukiele and Reinildo and his substitutes - the personnel and timing in the second half - were game-changing. Le Bris is a class act.
RECOMMENDED READING:
WHO HAS BEEN SUNDERLAND'S BEST SIGNING?
SW: A tough question - and yet also an easy one. Sunderland's transfer work last summer was remarkable. Roefs, Mukiele, Noah Sadiki, Habib Diarra, Brian Brobbey - pretty much every decision made by Florent Ghisolfi and Kristjaan Speakman turned out to be a good one. Granit Xhaka is on a completely different level though. On and off the pitch, the Swiss midfielder has completely transformed Sunderland. He has been the driving force behind the club's successful return to the top-flight - getting him out of Bayer Leverkusen really was a masterstroke.
DS: It's obviously Xhaka. On so many occasions this season, I've come away from a Sunderland game thinking not only was Xhaka the best player on the pitch but he'd also significantly improve the team the Black Cats were playing. That was certainly the case against Newcastle. He's not just a captain, he's a manager on the pitch.
Take Xhaka out of the equation though and you could very easily make a case for three or four. Robin Roefs is one of the Premier League's best goalkeepers, Nordi Mukiele has been immense, Noah Sadiki has turned heads of clubs at the top of the league for a reason and Brobbey is a monster.
WILL SUNDERLAND QUALIFY FOR EUROPE?
SW: You know what, I really think they might. There are a lot of moving parts to England's European quota for next season - the UEFA coefficient, who wins the Europa League and Conference League, who wins the FA Cup - but there is a good chance that finishing anywhere in the top eight will be good enough to secure European football of some description. Can Sunderland finish eighth? Of course they can. They're only three points off the top eight now, with three of their next four games pitting them against Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Wolves. Europe is on.
DS: Prior to the Newcastle game, I'd have said that ship had sailed. But that win at St James' Park will provide the Black Cats with a such boost. Tottenham will almost certainly be trickier now Roberto De Zerbi has taken charge but if Sunderland can win that game they some presentable fixtures coming up. Last term 61 points was required to finish eighth, but it won't be that high this season.
HOW DO SUNDERLAND APPROACH THE SUMMER TO ENSURE THEY CAN PROGRESS AGAIN NEXT SEASON?
SW: More of the same, although that might be easier than done. Is it realistic to think that Sunderland could repeat their success from last summer when the window reopens? Well, their recruitment operation is clearly working and targets will undoubtedly already be in place. Can they hold on to the likes of Sadiki, Diarra and Ballard if the big boys come calling? Probably not. But they have proved on a number of occasions now that selling is not a problem provided you're able to reinvest the money effectively.
DS: There's obviously no need for a repeat of last season's overhaul. As Florent Ghisolfi said this week, this summer will be more about "stability", similar to the approach in January. I think the Black Cats will look to sprinkle some extra quality and depth to the squad. There's the possibility, as well, that a star might move on. Sunderland don't need to sell but as Ghisolfi said this week, part of what makes Sunderland's model a success is their willingness to let players move on when huge opportunities present themselves. Sunderland have been excellent traders in recent years. That's a must in the current financial landscape.