NFL Power Rankings: Why the Detroit Lions Are Still Overrated

The Detroit Lions may be 4-0 and flying high, but they are overrated.

I would understand if the rising Lions were being dubbed a top-10 team, but many are calling them one of the five best teams in the NFL, and that's where I have a problem.

The Lions may have an electric offense behind up-and-coming quarterback Matthew Stafford and top wideout Calvin Johnson, but the main reasons they are overrated right now is because of their rush defense and rushing "attack."

The Lions brought in former Tennessee Titans middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch in the offseason and they have a guy by the name of Ndamukong Suh, but that hasn't prevented the team from allowing 4.8 yards per carry thus far, ranked in the bottom third of the league.

They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 by a touchdown when the Bucs inexplicably decided to give star running back LeGarrette Blount five rushes on the day.

They faced what has become known as a bad team in the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2 and predictably destroyed them. Helping matters was the fact that Chiefs star running back Jamaal Charles got injured midway through the first quarter in that game. Before his injury, he had two rushes for 27 yards.

In Week 3, the Lions barely escaped with an overtime victory against the lowly Minnesota Vikings. Why did such a team cause a problem for the Lions? Take a wild guess. The Vikings have one Adrian Peterson on their team.

But the Lions harrowing victory in Week 3 also brought up another glaring weakness for the Lions. The Vikings are near the top of the league in yards allowed per carry, and that showed when Lions' lead back Jahvid Best rushed 12 times for 14 yards.

And, in all likelihood, the Dallas Cowboys should have beaten the Lions in Week 4 if it wasn't for Tony Romo throwing three interceptions in the second half, two which were returned for touchdowns.

The Lions have earned their 4-0 start, but they've also been the benefactor of teams ignoring the run or simply imploding.

They're a top-10 team, but they are getting too much credit as a top-five team.