The Chargers are on a roll, eh? Everything the Chargers needed to happen this past week, did happen. Their playoff hopes are up to a staggering 14.67%. Could this be the start of another magical run by Norv and the boys? Who knows, but it still would be nice to see the Broncos continue to be dominated by other teams; let's hope that trend continues too.

With an absolutely dominating performance against the Ravens — dubbed the "Best team in teh AFC" and "Best Defense in the League" by more than a few pundits — you'd think the Chargers would be skyrocketing up the charts, wouldn't you? Well, I wouldn't call it skyrocketing, but climbing an average of 3.1 spots in the subjective rankings this week, they are certainly heading upwards.

Also of note this week, the Chargers have fallen off the "Disappointments" list; they've been replaced by the Chicago Bears. But I suppose you're going to underperform a bit when you lose your starting quarterback.

Notable Quotes

Team Efficiency

Every AFC West team is still in playoff contention, and San Diego's recent surge has them ranked the highest out of the bunch. Oakland isn't far behind, but division leader Denver is ranked 25th this week. In our hearts, Denver is clearly number one.

Sports Illustrated

This Chargers late-season run should only underline how much San Diego underachieved during the course of its six-game losing streak, not serve to put a happy face on a 9-7 near-miss and protect the status quo. This is the Chargers team that should have shown up all season, not just at the beginning and the end.

SBNation

Here come the Chargers. After apparently taking half the season off, they're playing like they usually do in December. The question is whether it's come too late.

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking AFC North 12.8750 NFC North 15.0313 AFC East 15.3906 NFC South 15.7344 NFC East 16.7500 AFC West 17.0625 NFC West 17.7188 AFC South 21.4375

Surprises

Team Week 1 Average Week 16 Average Difference SF 25.667 3.800 21.867 DEN 29.000 10.300 18.700 CIN 30.778 12.700 18.078 SEA 24.889 16.600 8.289 CAR 30.889 23.400 7.489

Disappointments

Team Week 1 Average Week 16 Average Difference IND 11.778 31.800 -20.022 TB 12.333 28.800 -16.467 STL 17.667 31.200 -13.533 PHI 6.222 18.000 -11.778 CHI 13.889 21.700 -7.811

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Saints 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 2.300 0.458 Patriots 4 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 4 4 3.100 0.700 49ers 3 4 4 4 4 4 6 4 2 3 3.800 0.980 Ravens 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5.000 0.000 Steelers 6 6 7 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 5.900 0.700 Falcons 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 8 7 7.400 0.490 Texans 7 7 6 10 9 8 8 10 7 8 8.000 1.265 Lions 9 9 9 8 8 9 9 8 9 9 8.700 0.458 Broncos 11 10 10 9 10 11 11 9 10 12 10.300 0.900 Cowboys 10 11 13 11 11 10 10 11 13 11 11.100 1.044 Jets 12 12 11 12 15 15 12 12 12 13 12.600 1.281 Bengals 13 13 14 13 12 12 13 13 14 10 12.700 1.100 Giants 16 18 12 14 17 13 14 14 15 14 14.700 1.735 Chargers 14 16 19 15 13 14 15 15 11 15 14.700 1.952 Seahawks 15 15 16 18 16 16 17 18 19 16 16.600 1.281 Cardinals 17 14 18 19 18 18 16 19 18 19 17.600 1.497 Eagles 18 17 17 17 20 17 19 17 21 17 18.000 1.414 Raiders 19 19 15 21 19 20 20 21 17 18 18.900 1.758 Chiefs 22 26 22 16 14 23 23 16 20 21 20.300 3.607 Titans 20 21 20 24 23 19 18 24 16 20 20.500 2.460 Bears 21 20 21 22 24 21 21 22 23 22 21.700 1.100 Dolphins 23 24 24 20 21 22 22 20 22 24 22.200 1.470 Panthers 24 22 25 23 22 24 24 23 24 23 23.400 0.917 Redskins 25 23 23 25 26 25 25 25 25 25 24.700 0.900 Bills 26 25 27 27 25 26 26 27 28 26 26.300 0.900 Browns 28 27 29 26 28 28 27 26 26 27 27.200 0.980 Jaguars 27 29 26 29 27 27 28 29 27 28 27.700 1.005 Buccaneers 29 30 28 28 29 29 29 28 29 29 28.800 0.600 Vikings 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.800 0.600 Rams 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 32 31 31 31.200 0.400 Colts 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31 32 32 31.800 0.400

Observations:

Packers retain the top spot, despite losing to the lowly Chiefs. Said Chiefs, however, did climb the rankings this week after beating the top team in the NFL.

The get knocked down by everyone across the board, by about 3 spots. Which is coincidentally how many spots the Chargers rose this week.

Also filed in the "Ranking Injustices" folder: The 49ers being ranked 2 spots below the Steelers by Pro Football Weekly

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Ravens 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5.000 0.000 Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Rams 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 32 31 31 31.200 0.400 Colts 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31 32 32 31.800 0.400 Saints 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 2.300 0.458 Lions 9 9 9 8 8 9 9 8 9 9 8.700 0.458 Falcons 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 8 7 7.400 0.490 Buccaneers 29 30 28 28 29 29 29 28 29 29 28.800 0.600 Vikings 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.800 0.600 Patriots 4 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 4 4 3.100 0.700 Steelers 6 6 7 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 5.900 0.700 Bills 26 25 27 27 25 26 26 27 28 26 26.300 0.900 Broncos 11 10 10 9 10 11 11 9 10 12 10.300 0.900 Redskins 25 23 23 25 26 25 25 25 25 25 24.700 0.900 Panthers 24 22 25 23 22 24 24 23 24 23 23.400 0.917 Browns 28 27 29 26 28 28 27 26 26 27 27.200 0.980 49ers 3 4 4 4 4 4 6 4 2 3 3.800 0.980 Jaguars 27 29 26 29 27 27 28 29 27 28 27.700 1.005 Cowboys 10 11 13 11 11 10 10 11 13 11 11.100 1.044 Bengals 13 13 14 13 12 12 13 13 14 10 12.700 1.100 Bears 21 20 21 22 24 21 21 22 23 22 21.700 1.100 Texans 7 7 6 10 9 8 8 10 7 8 8.000 1.265 Jets 12 12 11 12 15 15 12 12 12 13 12.600 1.281 Seahawks 15 15 16 18 16 16 17 18 19 16 16.600 1.281 Eagles 18 17 17 17 20 17 19 17 21 17 18.000 1.414 Dolphins 23 24 24 20 21 22 22 20 22 24 22.200 1.470 Cardinals 17 14 18 19 18 18 16 19 18 19 17.600 1.497 Giants 16 18 12 14 17 13 14 14 15 14 14.700 1.735 Raiders 19 19 15 21 19 20 20 21 17 18 18.900 1.758 Chargers 14 16 19 15 13 14 15 15 11 15 14.700 1.952 Titans 20 21 20 24 23 19 18 24 16 20 20.500 2.460 Chiefs 22 26 22 16 14 23 23 16 20 21 20.300 3.607

Observations:

Wow, the Ravens are a unanimous number-5.

Thanks to Donny Banks at Sports Illustrated, the Colts and Rams are no longer unanimous 32 and 31, respectively. And given their recent performances, I find it difficult to argue with him, heh.

By beating Green Bay, the Chiefs really shook things up.

Chargers are a little inconsistently-ranked. But, you can thank CBS for being the outlier by ranking them 19th when everyone else has them ranked 13-16.

Objective Average

Objective Packers 3 5 2 1 1 1 2.167 1.463 Patriots 2 4 1 2 7 4 3.333 1.972 Saints 7 3 3 4 2 7 4.333 1.972 Texans 4 1 9 7 4 5 5.000 2.517 Steelers 1 2 5 5 6 11 5.000 3.215 49ers 6 13 4 3 3 2 5.167 3.716 Ravens 8 9 6 6 5 3 6.167 1.951 Falcons 5 12 7 9 16 6 9.167 3.804 Lions 13 10 12 8 8 8 9.833 2.034 Cowboys 14 7 16 11 11 9 11.333 2.981 Jets 10 16 13 10 10 10 11.500 2.291 Eagles 9 6 14 16 27 15 14.500 6.602 Chargers 12 11 15 12 24 13 14.500 4.425 Seahawks 11 24 11 18 17 14 15.833 4.525 Bengals 21 15 18 13 13 20 16.667 3.197 Giants 17 8 20 17 20 19 16.833 4.140 Broncos 20 25 8 14 9 27 17.167 7.381 Bears 15 17 22 15 23 12 17.333 3.944 Dolphins 16 18 19 21 14 17 17.500 2.217 Titans 19 21 25 20 12 18 19.167 3.891 Raiders 22 14 24 19 15 23 19.500 3.862 Panthers 18 23 21 25 26 16 21.500 3.594 Redskins 23 19 23 26 19 21 21.833 2.478 Cardinals 27 22 10 22 30 22 22.167 6.229 Chiefs 24 27 17 24 22 29 23.833 3.804 Bills 28 20 29 23 21 28 24.833 3.625 Browns 25 26 27 29 18 24 24.833 3.436 Jaguars 26 28 26 27 25 26 26.333 0.943 Vikings 30 32 28 30 29 25 29.000 2.160 Buccaneers 29 30 32 28 28 31 29.667 1.491 Rams 31 29 30 31 32 30 30.500 0.957 Colts 32 31 31 32 31 32 31.500 0.500

Observations:

Chargers and Eagles are tied at 14.5.

The Seahawks are quietly doing well.

Despite what they showed us in the dark on Monday — no that wasn't a Big Ben joke — the Steelers are still playing quite well.

The stats sites still need to find a way to quantify "Tebow Factor" because half of them have the Broncos ranked in the bottom-3rd of the league.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Colts 32 31 31 32 31 32 31.500 0.500 Jaguars 26 28 26 27 25 26 26.333 0.943 Rams 31 29 30 31 32 30 30.500 0.957 Packers 3 5 2 1 1 1 2.167 1.463 Buccaneers 29 30 32 28 28 31 29.667 1.491 Ravens 8 9 6 6 5 3 6.167 1.951 Saints 7 3 3 4 2 7 4.333 1.972 Patriots 2 4 1 2 7 4 3.333 1.972 Lions 13 10 12 8 8 8 9.833 2.034 Vikings 30 32 28 30 29 25 29.000 2.160 Dolphins 16 18 19 21 14 17 17.500 2.217 Jets 10 16 13 10 10 10 11.500 2.291 Redskins 23 19 23 26 19 21 21.833 2.478 Texans 4 1 9 7 4 5 5.000 2.517 Cowboys 14 7 16 11 11 9 11.333 2.981 Bengals 21 15 18 13 13 20 16.667 3.197 Steelers 1 2 5 5 6 11 5.000 3.215 Browns 25 26 27 29 18 24 24.833 3.436 Panthers 18 23 21 25 26 16 21.500 3.594 Bills 28 20 29 23 21 28 24.833 3.625 49ers 6 13 4 3 3 2 5.167 3.716 Chiefs 24 27 17 24 22 29 23.833 3.804 Falcons 5 12 7 9 16 6 9.167 3.804 Raiders 22 14 24 19 15 23 19.500 3.862 Titans 19 21 25 20 12 18 19.167 3.891 Bears 15 17 22 15 23 12 17.333 3.944 Giants 17 8 20 17 20 19 16.833 4.140 Chargers 12 11 15 12 24 13 14.500 4.425 Seahawks 11 24 11 18 17 14 15.833 4.525 Cardinals 27 22 10 22 30 22 22.167 6.229 Eagles 9 6 14 16 27 15 14.500 6.602 Broncos 20 25 8 14 9 27 17.167 7.381

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 1.059 1.167 Patriots 3.100 3.333 3.217 1.333 0.233 Saints 2.300 4.333 3.317 1.600 2.033 49ers 3.800 5.167 4.483 2.493 1.367 Steelers 5.900 5.000 5.450 2.091 -0.900 Ravens 5.000 6.167 5.583 1.321 1.167 Texans 8.000 5.000 6.500 2.342 -3.000 Falcons 7.400 9.167 8.283 2.512 1.767 Lions 8.700 9.833 9.267 1.409 1.133 Cowboys 11.100 11.333 11.217 2.007 0.233 Jets 12.600 11.500 12.050 1.810 -1.100 Broncos 10.300 17.167 13.733 5.656 6.867 Chargers 14.700 14.500 14.600 3.120 -0.200 Bengals 12.700 16.667 14.683 2.877 3.967 Giants 14.700 16.833 15.767 3.062 2.133 Seahawks 16.600 15.833 16.217 2.973 -0.767 Eagles 18.000 14.500 16.250 4.524 -3.500 Raiders 18.900 19.500 19.200 2.759 0.600 Bears 21.700 17.333 19.517 3.325 -4.367 Titans 20.500 19.167 19.833 3.143 -1.333 Dolphins 22.200 17.500 19.850 2.893 -4.700 Cardinals 17.600 22.167 19.883 4.565 4.567 Chiefs 20.300 23.833 22.067 4.060 3.533 Panthers 23.400 21.500 22.450 2.493 -1.900 Redskins 24.700 21.833 23.267 2.176 -2.867 Bills 26.300 24.833 25.567 2.437 -1.467 Browns 27.200 24.833 26.017 2.518 -2.367 Jaguars 27.700 26.333 27.017 1.184 -1.367 Buccaneers 28.800 29.667 29.233 1.111 0.867 Vikings 29.800 29.000 29.400 1.458 -0.800 Rams 31.200 30.500 30.850 0.747 -0.700 Colts 31.800 31.500 31.650 0.464 -0.300

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Colts 31.800 31.500 31.650 0.464 -0.300 Rams 31.200 30.500 30.850 0.747 -0.700 Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 1.059 1.167 Buccaneers 28.800 29.667 29.233 1.111 0.867 Jaguars 27.700 26.333 27.017 1.184 -1.367 Ravens 5.000 6.167 5.583 1.321 1.167 Patriots 3.100 3.333 3.217 1.333 0.233 Lions 8.700 9.833 9.267 1.409 1.133 Vikings 29.800 29.000 29.400 1.458 -0.800 Saints 2.300 4.333 3.317 1.600 2.033 Jets 12.600 11.500 12.050 1.810 -1.100 Cowboys 11.100 11.333 11.217 2.007 0.233 Steelers 5.900 5.000 5.450 2.091 -0.900 Redskins 24.700 21.833 23.267 2.176 -2.867 Texans 8.000 5.000 6.500 2.342 -3.000 Bills 26.300 24.833 25.567 2.437 -1.467 Panthers 23.400 21.500 22.450 2.493 -1.900 49ers 3.800 5.167 4.483 2.493 1.367 Falcons 7.400 9.167 8.283 2.512 1.767 Browns 27.200 24.833 26.017 2.518 -2.367 Raiders 18.900 19.500 19.200 2.759 0.600 Bengals 12.700 16.667 14.683 2.877 3.967 Dolphins 22.200 17.500 19.850 2.893 -4.700 Seahawks 16.600 15.833 16.217 2.973 -0.767 Giants 14.700 16.833 15.767 3.062 2.133 Chargers 14.700 14.500 14.600 3.120 -0.200 Titans 20.500 19.167 19.833 3.143 -1.333 Bears 21.700 17.333 19.517 3.325 -4.367 Chiefs 20.300 23.833 22.067 4.060 3.533 Eagles 18.000 14.500 16.250 4.524 -3.500 Cardinals 17.600 22.167 19.883 4.565 4.567 Broncos 10.300 17.167 13.733 5.656 6.867

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Broncos 10.300 17.167 13.733 5.656 6.867 Cardinals 17.600 22.167 19.883 4.565 4.567 Bengals 12.700 16.667 14.683 2.877 3.967 Chiefs 20.300 23.833 22.067 4.060 3.533 Giants 14.700 16.833 15.767 3.062 2.133 Saints 2.300 4.333 3.317 1.600 2.033 Falcons 7.400 9.167 8.283 2.512 1.767 49ers 3.800 5.167 4.483 2.493 1.367 Ravens 5.000 6.167 5.583 1.321 1.167 Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 1.059 1.167 Lions 8.700 9.833 9.267 1.409 1.133 Buccaneers 28.800 29.667 29.233 1.111 0.867 Raiders 18.900 19.500 19.200 2.759 0.600 Patriots 3.100 3.333 3.217 1.333 0.233 Cowboys 11.100 11.333 11.217 2.007 0.233 Chargers 14.700 14.500 14.600 3.120 -0.200 Colts 31.800 31.500 31.650 0.464 -0.300 Rams 31.200 30.500 30.850 0.747 -0.700 Seahawks 16.600 15.833 16.217 2.973 -0.767 Vikings 29.800 29.000 29.400 1.458 -0.800 Steelers 5.900 5.000 5.450 2.091 -0.900 Jets 12.600 11.500 12.050 1.810 -1.100 Titans 20.500 19.167 19.833 3.143 -1.333 Jaguars 27.700 26.333 27.017 1.184 -1.367 Bills 26.300 24.833 25.567 2.437 -1.467 Panthers 23.400 21.500 22.450 2.493 -1.900 Browns 27.200 24.833 26.017 2.518 -2.367 Redskins 24.700 21.833 23.267 2.176 -2.867 Texans 8.000 5.000 6.500 2.342 -3.000 Eagles 18.000 14.500 16.250 4.524 -3.500 Bears 21.700 17.333 19.517 3.325 -4.367 Dolphins 22.200 17.500 19.850 2.893 -4.700

Observations:

Why does it seem like the AFC West is the perennial heir to the "Most Overrated Team" crown? This week it's the Broncos again, by a lot.

Cardinals, Bengals and Chiefs are clustered together in the "solidly overrated" teams.

The Raiders are that mediocre.

Chargers are only slightly underrated

Once again the Dolphins are the most underrated team. Chicago is not far behind at all.

Sources