So I have good news and bad news with regards to the Chargers and their Power Rankings this week. First the good news: the Chargers didn't fall nearly as much as I expected and they don't even make an appearance in this week's Stock Falling list. The bad news: the Chargers now make an appearance in the "Overrated Teams" list. Where do they rank on that list? You'll have to read on to find out.

This week, it's becoming obvious that the Subjective Rankers are relying too much on record than anything else when evaluating a team's ranking. The Atlanta falcons are your consensus number-1 team, using the subjective rankings as a guide. However, six of the eight Objective rankers have the Chicago Bears as the number 1 team. 75% of the various stats-based rankings agree that the Chicago Bears are the best team in the NFL right now, wheras the Subjective rankers find them to be about the 5th-best team. Flying under the radar a little bit.

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking NFC North 10.1447 NFC West 11.4079 NFC East 12.7500 AFC East 17.2763 AFC North 17.5395 NFC South 18.6184 AFC South 22.0526 AFC West 22.2105

Stock Rising

Team Week 6 Average Week 7 Average Difference SEA 15.546 8.364 7.182 GB 11.727 7.000 4.727 WAS 19.818 15.364 4.454 DEN 15.000 10.636 4.364 NYG 7.364 3.091 4.273

Stock Falling

Team Week 6 Average Week 7 Average Difference IND 20.818 25.546 -4.728 STL 15.909 20.182 -4.273 ARI 9.546 13.818 -4.272 PIT 9.818 13.909 -4.091 CIN 14.909 18.727 -3.818

Subjective Average

Subjective Falcons 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 1.091 Giants 3 5 5 2 3 3 2 2 4 3 2 3.091 4.273 Ravens 4 2 2 6 2 2 3 6 2 4 3 3.273 1.000 Texans 2 3 4 4 4 5 4 3 3 2 4 3.455 -2.455 Bears 6 4 3 7 6 4 5 4 5 6 6 5.091 0.818 49ers 5 7 6 5 5 6 6 5 6 5 5 5.546 -2.637 Packers 8 6 9 3 7 9 7 7 7 7 7 7.000 4.727 Patriots 7 9 8 8 9 8 8 9 9 8 8 8.273 -3.273 Seahawks 9 8 7 10 8 7 9 8 8 9 9 8.364 7.182 Broncos 12 13 10 9 11 10 10 11 11 10 10 10.636 4.364 Vikings 10 12 11 15 10 11 11 10 10 12 11 11.182 -2.546 Eagles 13 15 14 12 13 14 12 14 12 16 12 13.364 -2.182 Cardinals 11 16 12 21 12 12 13 15 15 11 14 13.818 -4.272 Steelers 14 14 13 13 15 13 14 13 16 13 15 13.909 -4.091 Redskins 15 11 20 18 16 16 16 17 13 14 13 15.364 4.454 Chargers 16 20 17 11 19 19 15 12 14 15 16 15.818 -1.818 Dolphins 17 21 15 26 14 20 20 16 19 20 17 18.636 2.819 Bengals 21 19 18 16 21 18 18 20 17 18 20 18.727 -3.818 Cowboys 18 10 19 17 23 25 17 22 22 17 19 19.000 -2.364 Lions 19 17 22 14 22 21 22 19 21 19 18 19.455 2.363 Jets 23 18 23 22 17 17 19 18 18 22 21 19.818 3.909 Rams 20 23 16 20 18 15 21 21 25 21 22 20.182 -4.273 Bills 25 25 21 24 20 27 23 24 20 24 24 23.364 2.545 Buccaneers 22 24 24 25 25 24 25 23 23 23 25 23.909 -0.091 Saints 24 22 25 19 26 23 24 25 27 26 23 24.000 -0.636 Colts 26 26 26 27 24 22 26 26 24 28 26 25.546 -4.728 Titans 27 28 27 23 27 26 27 27 26 27 27 26.546 3.090 Panthers 28 27 31 28 29 28 28 28 28 25 28 28.000 -1.182 Raiders 29 30 29 29 30 29 29 29 31 29 29 29.364 -0.818 Browns 30 29 28 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.546 2.090 Jaguars 31 32 32 32 31 31 31 32 29 32 32 31.364 -0.364 Chiefs 32 31 30 31 32 32 32 31 32 31 31 31.364 -3.182

Observations:

Last week, Houston was the consensus number-1 team. With the Texans losing their first game this week and the Falcons remaining undefeated, it was pretty much a guarantee that the Falcons would supplant the Texans atop the leaderboard.

Interesting that the Patriots are still ranked above the Seahawks. Some rankers have them swapped, but on average, the Patriots are still ranked higher (albeit barely).

The Chargers only dropped about 1.8 spots on average this week in the subjective rankings. Was that enough? Probably not. I mean, did you see that game?

Denver climbed more in the rankings than San Diego fell

What little hope there still was in Kansas City has been dashed.

The Browns finally won a game! That means they're no longer in the cellar!

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Falcons 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.288 Patriots 7 9 8 8 9 8 8 9 9 8 8 0.617 0.191 Raiders 29 30 29 29 30 29 29 29 31 29 29 0.643 -0.433 Chiefs 32 31 30 31 32 32 32 31 32 31 31 0.643 -1.053 49ers 5 7 6 5 5 6 6 5 6 5 5 0.656 0.368 Browns 30 29 28 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 0.782 0.139 Jaguars 31 32 32 32 31 31 31 32 29 32 32 0.881 0.142 Seahawks 9 8 7 10 8 7 9 8 8 9 9 0.881 -0.107 Texans 2 3 4 4 4 5 4 3 3 2 4 0.891 0.891 Steelers 14 14 13 13 15 13 14 13 16 13 15 0.996 -0.117 Buccaneers 22 24 24 25 25 24 25 23 23 23 25 0.996 -0.589 Broncos 12 13 10 9 11 10 10 11 11 10 10 1.068 -1.526 Giants 3 5 5 2 3 3 2 2 4 3 2 1.083 -0.284 Bears 6 4 3 7 6 4 5 4 5 6 6 1.164 0.371 Titans 27 28 27 23 27 26 27 27 26 27 27 1.233 0.007 Eagles 13 15 14 12 13 14 12 14 12 16 12 1.298 0.106 Panthers 28 27 31 28 29 28 28 28 28 25 28 1.348 0.156 Vikings 10 12 11 15 10 11 11 10 10 12 11 1.403 -0.091 Ravens 4 2 2 6 2 2 3 6 2 4 3 1.483 0.866 Packers 8 6 9 3 7 9 7 7 7 7 7 1.537 -0.326 Bengals 21 19 18 16 21 18 18 20 17 18 20 1.543 -0.338 Colts 26 26 26 27 24 22 26 26 24 28 26 1.559 -0.649 Bills 25 25 21 24 20 27 23 24 20 24 24 2.101 -0.008 Saints 24 22 25 19 26 23 24 25 27 26 23 2.132 -0.054 Jets 23 18 23 22 17 17 19 18 18 22 21 2.289 0.579 Lions 19 17 22 14 22 21 22 19 21 19 18 2.388 0.692 Redskins 15 11 20 18 16 16 16 17 13 14 13 2.422 1.486 Chargers 16 20 17 11 19 19 15 12 14 15 16 2.724 1.129 Rams 20 23 16 20 18 15 21 21 25 21 22 2.790 -0.147 Cardinals 11 16 12 21 12 12 13 15 15 11 14 2.790 1.119 Dolphins 17 21 15 26 14 20 20 16 19 20 17 3.199 1.051 Cowboys 18 10 19 17 23 25 17 22 22 17 19 3.861 2.038

Observations:

It happened to the 49ers, then the Texans, are the Falcons the next to be knocked out of the top spot?

Chargers rankings are all over the board here. Just how bad was Monday's loss? No one truly knows.

Brian Billick has the Cowboys at number 10. Someone send an ambulance to his house, stat! He needs to be checked out.

Dolphins are difficult for people to figure out. Are they good? Are they bad? Do we not care about them and just stick them in some open spot?

Objective Average

Objective Bears 3 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.625 1.500 49ers 5 2 6 2 6 4 3 8 4.500 -1.625 Giants 2 5 3 3 14 5 2 2 4.500 7.750 Texans 9 3 4 4 10 2 6 4 5.250 -2.875 Packers 1 7 7 7 9 10 5 5 6.375 6.500 Falcons 7 10 2 8 8 6 9 3 6.625 -2.250 Patriots 4 18 8 5 12 3 4 15 8.625 -2.625 Seahawks 8 12 5 10 4 14 7 10 8.750 3.375 Ravens 10 17 9 6 7 8 10 7 9.250 -0.875 Broncos 6 1 13 9 19 17 8 6 9.875 1.500 Vikings 11 16 11 11 5 12 16 9 11.375 -4.000 Rams 22 11 10 24 3 19 11 13 14.125 0.500 Redskins 13 15 17 17 18 11 15 11 14.625 5.500 Dolphins 12 8 14 22 13 13 17 18 14.625 -2.250 Cowboys 18 9 15 15 11 22 12 19 15.125 1.625 Cardinals 23 25 12 16 2 15 14 14 15.125 -3.875 Buccaneers 14 22 24 19 25 7 13 12 17.000 7.000 Eagles 21 13 20 14 15 18 19 16 17.000 -3.000 Lions 17 14 19 21 27 9 18 21 18.250 -1.000 Jets 15 23 18 20 17 23 21 20 19.625 2.625 Steelers 16 21 23 12 30 16 23 17 19.750 -3.000 Bengals 24 20 21 23 16 26 24 22 22.000 -3.000 Chargers 25 26 27 13 22 20 22 26 22.625 -5.750 Panthers 20 6 28 29 29 25 20 24 22.625 1.375 Saints 19 30 31 18 32 21 25 23 24.875 -0.625 Bills 27 28 16 27 20 28 28 25 24.875 2.125 Browns 29 24 26 25 24 24 26 27 25.625 2.500 Colts 28 27 22 26 21 32 27 29 26.500 -5.125 Raiders 26 19 30 30 28 27 29 28 27.125 1.125 Titans 30 29 25 28 26 31 31 31 28.875 -0.250 Jaguars 32 31 29 31 23 29 30 30 29.375 -0.375 Chiefs 31 32 32 32 31 30 32 32 31.500 -2.500

Observations:

I mentioned it earlier, but see the Bears ranking? Top team in the NFL based on stats, and it's not even that close.

Yep, the Chiefs are that terrible.

Once again, the AFC shows its futility as they occupy the bottom 7 spots in the Objective rankings. Nearly half the conference is stuck at the bottom of the list.

Thankfully the Chargers aren't a part of that grouping ... yet.

Of the top 20 teams in the NFL ranked "objectively", the AFC occupies just 6 of those spots. It's really quite sad. Okay maybe not sad, maybe it's good for the Chargers: the road to the playoffs would be easier.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Chiefs 31 32 32 32 31 30 32 32 0.707 -0.793 Bears 3 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.111 -0.341 Browns 29 24 26 25 24 24 26 27 1.654 -0.434 49ers 5 2 6 2 6 4 3 8 2.000 -0.522 Titans 30 29 25 28 26 31 31 31 2.204 -1.185 Redskins 13 15 17 17 18 11 15 11 2.546 -0.025 Packers 1 7 7 7 9 10 5 5 2.595 -3.049 Jaguars 32 31 29 31 23 29 30 30 2.595 -0.189 Falcons 7 10 2 8 8 6 9 3 2.643 1.532 Jets 15 23 18 20 17 23 21 20 2.643 -2.643 Texans 9 3 4 4 10 2 6 4 2.681 1.272 Eagles 21 13 20 14 15 18 19 16 2.739 -1.198 Bengals 24 20 21 23 16 26 24 22 2.872 -1.221 Seahawks 8 12 5 10 4 14 7 10 3.192 -0.759 Ravens 10 17 9 6 7 8 10 7 3.231 0.998 Raiders 26 19 30 30 28 27 29 28 3.333 0.606 Vikings 11 16 11 11 5 12 16 9 3.352 1.776 Colts 28 27 22 26 21 32 27 29 3.354 -0.549 Giants 2 5 3 3 14 5 2 2 3.775 -1.942 Dolphins 12 8 14 22 13 13 17 18 3.998 -0.062 Cowboys 18 9 15 15 11 22 12 19 4.106 0.615 Bills 27 28 16 27 20 28 28 25 4.196 2.538 Chargers 25 26 27 13 22 20 22 26 4.299 1.680 Lions 17 14 19 21 27 9 18 21 4.969 0.102 Saints 19 30 31 18 32 21 25 23 5.183 -0.311 Steelers 16 21 23 12 30 16 23 17 5.286 0.765 Patriots 4 18 8 5 12 3 4 15 5.337 1.663 Broncos 6 1 13 9 19 17 8 6 5.667 0.619 Buccaneers 14 22 24 19 25 7 13 12 6.042 0.190 Rams 22 11 10 24 3 19 11 13 6.566 -0.609 Cardinals 23 25 12 16 2 15 14 14 6.566 0.032 Panthers 20 6 28 29 29 25 20 24 7.140 0.875

Observations:

Yup, the Chiefs are consistently bad.

Bears: consistently good.

Browns: consistently mediocre.

If it weren't for Sagarin, the Chargers would be consistently ranked down in the 20's.

The guy(s) at Team Efficiency even admitted their rankings don't make much sense this week. Broncos 1st? Panthers 6th? Okay ...

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Bears 5.091 1.625 3.358 1.159 Giants 3.091 4.500 3.795 6.012 Falcons 1.000 6.625 3.813 -0.580 Texans 3.455 5.250 4.352 -2.664 49ers 5.546 4.500 5.023 -2.131 Ravens 3.273 9.250 6.261 0.063 Packers 7.000 6.375 6.688 5.613 Patriots 8.273 8.625 8.449 -2.949 Seahawks 8.364 8.750 8.557 5.278 Broncos 10.636 9.875 10.256 2.932 Vikings 11.182 11.375 11.278 -3.272 Cardinals 13.818 15.125 14.472 -4.074 Redskins 15.364 14.625 14.994 4.978 Eagles 13.364 17.000 15.182 -2.591 Dolphins 18.636 14.625 16.631 0.284 Steelers 13.909 19.750 16.830 -3.546 Cowboys 19.000 15.125 17.063 -0.370 Rams 20.182 14.125 17.153 -1.886 Lions 19.455 18.250 18.852 0.682 Chargers 15.818 22.625 19.222 -3.784 Jets 19.818 19.625 19.722 3.267 Bengals 18.727 22.000 20.364 -3.409 Buccaneers 23.909 17.000 20.455 3.454 Bills 23.364 24.875 24.119 2.336 Saints 24.000 24.875 24.438 -0.631 Panthers 28.000 22.625 25.313 0.096 Colts 25.546 26.500 26.023 -4.926 Browns 29.546 25.625 27.585 2.296 Titans 26.546 28.875 27.710 1.421 Raiders 29.364 27.125 28.244 0.154 Jaguars 31.364 29.375 30.369 -0.369 Chiefs 31.364 31.500 31.432 -2.841

Observations

The Bears now jump to the top spot overall, just edging out the Giants and Falcons; it's close though.

Wow, looks like there are clear division leaders in the AFC: Texans, Ravens, Patriots and Broncos. Even though there's a 4-way tie in the AFC East, the Patriots' nearest rival (Miami) is nearly 8 spots away.

Chargers are part of a slightly-below average cluster that includes the Jets, Lions, Bengals and Buccaneers.

Much like last year, Philadelphia was hyped up and have underperformed as they continue to slide down the rankings.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Chiefs 31.364 31.500 0.674 -0.992 49ers 5.546 4.500 1.483 -0.168 Bears 5.091 1.625 2.057 0.285 Jaguars 31.364 29.375 2.061 -0.073 Titans 26.546 28.875 2.061 -0.379 Texans 3.455 5.250 2.067 0.928 Packers 7.000 6.375 2.073 -1.895 Seahawks 8.364 8.750 2.185 -0.976 Browns 29.546 25.625 2.292 0.038 Vikings 11.182 11.375 2.425 0.774 Jets 19.818 19.625 2.446 -1.294 Raiders 29.364 27.125 2.478 0.523 Redskins 15.364 14.625 2.502 0.682 Colts 25.546 26.500 2.523 -0.529 Giants 3.091 4.500 2.677 -1.869 Eagles 13.364 17.000 2.712 -0.335 Bengals 18.727 22.000 2.732 -0.898 Bills 23.364 24.875 3.244 1.238 Falcons 1.000 6.625 3.264 1.908 Patriots 8.273 8.625 3.499 1.043 Lions 19.455 18.250 3.748 -0.342 Saints 24.000 24.875 3.759 -0.199 Broncos 10.636 9.875 3.784 -0.438 Ravens 3.273 9.250 3.792 1.258 Dolphins 18.636 14.625 4.071 -1.379 Cowboys 19.000 15.125 4.404 1.747 Steelers 13.909 19.750 4.545 -0.042 Cardinals 13.818 15.125 4.804 0.298 Chargers 15.818 22.625 4.835 2.310 Buccaneers 23.909 17.000 5.252 1.267 Panthers 28.000 22.625 5.437 1.045 Rams 20.182 14.125 5.622 0.419

Observations:

Chiefs: still consistently bad. Even I didn't expect them to be that bad this year. In fact I expected them to be kind of good.

49ers and Bears are consistently good. Shocker. NFC Championship Game, anyone?

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Chargers 15.818 22.625 6.807 3.932 Ravens 3.273 9.250 5.977 1.875 Steelers 13.909 19.750 5.841 -1.091 Falcons 1.000 6.625 5.625 3.341 Eagles 13.364 17.000 3.636 0.818 Bengals 18.727 22.000 3.273 -0.818 Titans 26.546 28.875 2.330 3.341 Texans 3.455 5.250 1.796 0.421 Bills 23.364 24.875 1.511 0.420 Giants 3.091 4.500 1.409 -3.477 Cardinals 13.818 15.125 1.307 -0.398 Colts 25.546 26.500 0.955 0.398 Saints 24.000 24.875 0.875 -0.011 Seahawks 8.364 8.750 0.386 3.807 Patriots 8.273 8.625 0.352 -0.648 Vikings 11.182 11.375 0.193 1.454 Chiefs 31.364 31.500 0.136 -0.682 Jets 19.818 19.625 -0.193 1.284 Packers 7.000 6.375 -0.625 -1.773 Redskins 15.364 14.625 -0.739 -1.046 Broncos 10.636 9.875 -0.761 2.864 49ers 5.546 4.500 -1.046 -1.012 Lions 19.455 18.250 -1.205 3.363 Jaguars 31.364 29.375 -1.989 0.011 Raiders 29.364 27.125 -2.239 -1.943 Bears 5.091 1.625 -3.466 -0.682 Cowboys 19.000 15.125 -3.875 -3.989 Browns 29.546 25.625 -3.921 -0.410 Dolphins 18.636 14.625 -4.011 5.069 Panthers 28.000 22.625 -5.375 -2.557 Rams 20.182 14.125 -6.057 -4.773 Buccaneers 23.909 17.000 -6.909 -7.091

Observations:

Oh goody, Chargers are at the top of the "Most Overrated" list. By nearly a full spot ahead of the Ravens.

Wait, the Ravens are overrated? Already?

Steelers are still overrated a bit. They've come closer to their stats rankings, but they still have a bit more to go. Falcons too, it seems.

Well the Dolphins are no longer the most underrated team this week. Their difference in averages dropped by nearly 5 spots this week.

Instead it's one of the other teams from Florida taking the "Most Underrated" crown: Tampa Bay.

Sources