NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are NFL's Most Overrated?

Through Week 4 of the NFL's 2011 season, several teams have surprised with early upset victories. But two teams have gotten a lot of ink for their early success, and they might not be as good as some are saying. At least, I'm not convinced yet.

The San Francisco 49ers were picked to finish near the bottom of the NFC by virtually every NFL expert before the season started. Their improbable run to a 3-1 record and a two-game lead in the NFC West standings has many praising head coach Jim Harbaugh for his squad's miraculous turnaround. In reality, the 49ers have had shaky wins over three teams playing awful football.

San Francisco beat the horrible Seattle Seahawks 33-17 in Week 1, lost in overtime to the shaky Dallas Cowboys 27-24 in Week 2, won on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals 13-8 in one of the ugliest games I've even seen in Week 3 and slipped by the Philadelphia Eagles 24-23 this Sunday. While beating the Eagles would seem like a solid victory, Philadelphia has looked awful so far this season, and I really don't know what to make of them.

While the 49ers are certainly better than we thought they'd be, that's not saying a whole lot. San Francisco's offense ranks 28th in the NFL in total yards, as it is averaging just 270.8 yards per game. And while the 49ers have the league's fourth-ranked run defense (74 yards per game), they have the league's 27th-ranked pass defense (284 yards per game).

San Francisco has gotten to 3-1 by beating opponents that are not playing good football. The 49ers have a long way to go to prove they deserve consideration as an actual power.

The Detroit Lions have been a revelation this year, as they have now bolted out to a 4-0 record. The Lions and their NFC North rival Green Bay Packers are the only undefeated teams left in the NFL. But that doesn't mean Detroit is on the Packers' level.

Like the 49ers, the Lions have had a laughably easy schedule thus far. They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-20 in Week 1, then blasted the Kansas City Chiefs 48-3 in Week 2 before sneaking by the Minnesota Vikings 26-23 in overtime in Week 3. On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys essentially handed the Lions a 34-30 win, as Tony Romo threw three awful interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns) in Detroit's huge comeback win.

Again, the Lions are a much-improved team, but to lump them in with the best teams in the NFL right now would be premature. Their rushing offense has been awful, as it is ranked 27th in the league, averaging just 74.5 yards per game, and their run defense has surrendered far too many yards, allowing 113 per game (19th in the NFL).

If the Lions want to prove themselves to be a legitimate contender, those numbers both have to improve and they need to get by a solid opponent.

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).