NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Which Teams Are Not as Good as Their Records?

We're just four weeks into the NFL's 2011 season and several teams have already proven to be extremely lucky and gotten wins they shouldn't have. Two of those squads are not as good as their records would suggest, and I have a hunch they know it.

The Detroit Lions have looked very good this year, but their current 4-0 record is a bit of a facade. I can't say they are one of the top two teams in the league, because I feel the Green Bay Packers (4-0), New Orleans Saints (3-1) and New England Patriots (3-1) would destroy them.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson have both been fantastic this season and I would currently have Johnson No. 2 on my MVP ballot (behind Aaron Rodgers). But the Lions were gifted a win on Sunday in their 34-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. They didn't play particularly well until the fourth quarter and still only came away with a win because Tony Romo threw three inexcusable interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

Two of Detroit's wins have come against the 0-4 Minnesota Vikings and the 1-3 Kansas City Chiefs, and the Chiefs only have a win this year because they were lucky enough to face the Vikings this past weekend.

The Lions are currently giving up too many yards on the ground (113 per game) and have the league's 29th-ranked rushing attack (74.5 yards per game). Both of those numbers need to improve before they are considered a legit contender.

The Washington Redskins were able to eke out a 17-10 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday to improve their record to 3-1. But anyone who currently believes the Redskins are a threat needs to take a step back and lower his or her expectations.

Washington has survived thanks to wins over an incredibly banged-up New York Giants team in Week 1 (28-14), an error-prone Arizona Cardinals team in Week 2 (22-21) and by slipping by an 0-4 St. Louis Rams team on Sunday. The combined record of the Redskins' opponents is 6-10.

The Redskins currently have the NFL's fifth-ranked defense and are allowing just 297.8 yards per game. That defense has sustained them thus far, as quarterback Rex Grossman leads an offense that sits in the middle of the pack (15th), averaging 356 yards per game.

Washington needs to show it can win against a quality opponent, and the team currently has its bye week before facing the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6. A convincing win over Michael Vick and company would go a long way to prove the Redskins are for real.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 5*
 
1. Green Bay Packers (4-0)
2. New Orleans Saints (3-1)
3. New England Patriots (3-1)
4. San Diego Chargers (3-1)
5. Detroit Lions (4-0)
6. Houston Texans (3-1)
7. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
8. Buffalo Bills (3-1)
9. Tennessee Titans (3-1)
10. Oakland Raiders (2-2)
11. New York Jets (2-2)
12. San Francisco 49ers (3-1)
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)
14. Washington Redskins (3-1)
15. New York Giants (3-1)
16. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
17. Chicago Bears (2-2)
18. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
19. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)
20. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)
21. Carolina Panthers (1-3)
22. Cleveland Browns (2-2)
23. Arizona Cardinals (1-3)
24. Denver Broncos (1-3)
25. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)
27. Seattle Seahawks (1-3)
28. Minnesota Vikings (0-4)
29. St. Louis Rams (0-4)
30. Miami Dolphins (0-4)

*Unranked: Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (playing Monday night).