NFL Power Rankings: San Diego Chargers and Most Overrated Pretenders

The worst thing about being overrated is you don't know who you are until you suffer a humiliating defeat that exposes your weaknesses.

It's like scoring a touchdown in flag football, then being inserted into the backfield against a top NFL defense. It just ain't gonna end pretty.

Seven weeks into the NFL season, three teams in particular are being given too much credit (using ESPN's latest power rankings as a baseline).

The San Diego Chargers are one of these teams.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)

It's funny calling the Bengals overrated because before the season, they were generally deemed the worst team in the league.

But at this point, the Bengals are overrated, ranked No. 16 by ESPN.

The Bengals may be 4-2, but who have they really beaten? I'll give them the Buffalo Bills, but the Bills are actually on this list, too. Their other wins came against the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts, three bottom-feeders in the league. They also lost to the Denver Broncos.

I'll say this: The Bengals are a good team, led by a solid defense. But we have to remember this team's offense is still developing. Against a good defense in San Francisco, the Bengals scored just eight points.

The Bengals face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8, and they'll beat them, but their next games against the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will reveal their offense still needs a lot of work.

2. San Diego Chargers (4-2)

Ranked No. 9 by ESPN, the Chargers predictably were unpredictable in Week 7, losing to a New York Jets team that had been struggling for weeks.

This team has a solid pass defense, a good young running back in Ryan Mathews and a star quarterback in Philip Rivers.

Yet they continue to disappoint.

The Chargers aren't a top-10 team because they aren't consistent enough and they lose to tougher competition. Their wins are against the Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs (early in the season), Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos (Tim Tebow almost led the Broncos back in Week 5).

1. Buffalo Bills (4-2)

I'm happy with how the Bills have rebounded, a team that was residing in the where-are-they-now file for a long time.

But, despite this team's offense led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and running back Fred Jackson, I just can't believe in this team until the defense is improved.

The Bills are allowing 24.5 points per game, 284.8 passing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry this season. They also have a league-worst four sacks on the season. That's inadequacy across the board on defense.

Until the defense improves, the Bills aren't a top-10 team.