With four weeks in the NFL season completed, a clearer picture of all 32 teams begins to come into focus.

We've reached the quarter pole in the season. I can't believe four weeks of NFL football are already in the books, and the fifth week gets under way shortly. Do we have a better view of where teams rank after just 4 games? For the most part, yes.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm a Chargers fan through and through. Always have been, always will be. I stuck with them through the bad years, I even attended a few games during the 1-15 season. I also know what it's like to be a San Diego sports fan, it's hard to believe what you're seeing. But let me tell you that the Chargers look like a top 5 team, and they're for real so far, injuries and all. It's scary to think how they'll play when they get some key players back.

Notable Quotes

Phillip [sic] Rivers is playing his way into the MVP discussion. This week, he showed off another aspect of his arsenal going 11-of-15 on passes traveling 10-or-more yards downfield, with three of those resulting in touchdowns. Key free-agent addition Brandon Flowers continues to look more like the Pro Bowler he was in 2011, and the defense has taken a major step forward overall. - Fox Sports

With another dazzling, near-perfect performance out of Philip Rivers -- who might be playing better than any other quarterback in the NFL right now -- the Chargers move up and into the top five with an easy win over the struggling Jaguars. San Diego's offense, particularly Rivers, picked up where it left off last year despite injuries to the top two running backs, and the defense is better than expected. This is a hot team right now. - SB Nation

Don't look now, but the San Diego Chargers are legit. Wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills are quality wins, and the team handled the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars like you would expect a quality team to do. Even their Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals (an undefeated team) was only by a single point. With a top-five defense and Philip Rivers playing as well as any quarterback in the NFL, the Chargers can overcome injuries at running back. That might be an issue moving ahead, but their depth in the backfield and the big plays from Keenan Allen and other receivers look to be good enough so far to overcome injuries. A home game against the New York Jets is waiting in Week 5, and so is another chance for the Chargers to continue their move up the rankings. - Bleacher Report

Division Averages

Division Week 4 Average Week 5 Average Difference NFC West 12.2727 11.0870 1.1857 AFC North 11.5795 12.1848 -0.6053 AFC West 16.0000 14.1848 1.8152 NFC North 16.9318 14.6957 2.2361 NFC East 17.7614 16.0978 1.6636 AFC East 17.7841 21.1087 -3.3246 NFC South 16.4886 21.1522 -4.6636 AFC South 23.1818 21.4891 1.6927

Stock Rising

Team Week 4 Average Week 5 Average Difference NYG 23.000 15.496 7.504 DAL 17.818 11.663 6.155 KC 21.955 15.830 6.125 GB 17.091 11.580 5.511 HOU 21.727 16.500 5.227

Stock Falling

Team Week 4 Average Week 5 Average Difference NE 9.091 17.125 -8.034 CAR 11.773 19.136 -7.363 NO 12.545 19.898 -7.353 PIT 12.000 18.095 -6.095 ATL 11.091 16.629 -5.538

Subjective Average

Subjective Seahawks 1 1 3 1 2 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1.500 0.136 Bengals 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 3 2 1.917 -0.008 Broncos 3 3 4 3 3 3 5 3 2 3 2 3 3.083 0.190 Cardinals 4 5 2 4 4 4 2 4 4 4 5 4 3.833 0.622 Chargers 5 4 5 5 5 7 3 8 5 5 4 5 5.083 1.553 Ravens 7 7 6 8 6 5 7 5 6 8 7 6 6.500 2.591 Eagles 6 10 7 6 7 6 6 6 9 7 6 8 7.000 -2.727 Lions 8 6 8 9 8 8 8 9 7 6 9 7 7.750 4.705 Colts 11 9 11 7 9 10 10 7 18 9 8 10 9.917 3.810 49ers 9 8 9 11 11 11 11 10 8 10 16 9 10.250 5.023 Packers 12 11 12 12 13 9 9 11 12 11 12 11 11.250 4.932 Cowboys 10 13 10 10 10 13 12 14 11 12 10 12 11.417 7.492 Patriots 16 18 18 13 15 19 18 12 15 15 11 13 15.250 -7.977 Chiefs 14 14 17 18 12 16 15 21 14 17 17 14 15.750 7.432 Bears 15 21 15 15 16 18 14 17 16 13 15 16 15.917 -5.826 Texans 13 17 13 14 14 14 21 15 13 18 25 15 16.000 5.455 Steelers 18 20 19 19 17 15 16 13 10 20 19 17 16.917 -5.553 Falcons 17 22 14 16 19 12 19 19 19 16 13 20 17.167 -6.076 Panthers 20 12 21 17 23 20 20 16 17 14 18 18 18.000 -7.091 Giants 19 15 16 21 18 25 13 20 20 19 24 19 19.083 5.281 Dolphins 22 16 22 20 22 24 17 22 24 21 23 22 21.250 3.750 Saints 21 25 26 24 21 17 22 18 23 23 14 21 21.250 -6.341 Vikings 24 19 20 23 24 26 25 23 25 24 20 23 23.000 3.818 Bills 23 23 23 22 25 21 23 24 21 22 26 24 23.083 -5.537 Browns 25 24 24 25 20 22 24 25 22 25 22 25 23.583 -1.128 Jets 26 26 27 26 26 23 26 26 27 26 21 26 25.500 -4.773 Redskins 27 29 29 27 29 29 27 27 28 27 27 28 27.833 -3.560 Rams 30 28 25 28 28 27 28 28 29 28 29 29 28.083 -0.265 Buccaneers 29 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 26 30 28 27 28.167 3.106 Titans 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 29 30 29 31 30 29.750 -1.750 Jaguars 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 32 31 30 32 31.167 0.197 Raiders 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31 32 32 31 31.750 -1.477

Observations:

Interesting that each of the top 4 teams on the list had byes this week, yet they moved around in the subjective rankings.

Chargers solidly holding down that number 5 spot. Suddenly that 1-point lost to the Cardinals doesn't look so bad, based on these rankings

Ravens have surged. Good thing the Chargers don't face them this ye ... ahh crap.

SB Nation with the Colts at 18th? Really?

Bleacher Report with the 49ers at 16th? Really?

Patriots got obliterated on Monday night, and many of the rankings reflect that. But some of the rankers are holding out hope for New England to pull it out.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Raiders 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31 32 32 31 0.433 -0.429 Jaguars 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 32 31 30 32 0.553 -0.090 Bengals 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 3 2 0.640 -0.028 Titans 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 29 30 29 31 30 0.722 -0.323 Broncos 3 3 4 3 3 3 5 3 2 3 2 3 0.759 -0.377 Redskins 27 29 29 27 29 29 27 27 28 27 27 28 0.898 -0.645 Cardinals 4 5 2 4 4 4 2 4 4 4 5 4 0.898 -0.407 Ravens 7 7 6 8 6 5 7 5 6 8 7 6 0.957 -0.548 Seahawks 1 1 3 1 2 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 0.957 -0.269 Lions 8 6 8 9 8 8 8 9 7 6 9 7 1.010 -1.340 Packers 12 11 12 12 13 9 9 11 12 11 12 11 1.164 -0.239 Rams 30 28 25 28 28 27 28 28 29 28 29 29 1.187 -0.216 Buccaneers 29 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 26 30 28 27 1.213 0.596 Chargers 5 4 5 5 5 7 3 8 5 5 4 5 1.256 -1.051 Eagles 6 10 7 6 7 6 6 6 9 7 6 8 1.291 0.329 Cowboys 10 13 10 10 10 13 12 14 11 12 10 12 1.382 -0.123 Bills 23 23 23 22 25 21 23 24 21 22 26 24 1.441 -1.022 Browns 25 24 24 25 20 22 24 25 22 25 22 25 1.605 -0.456 Jets 26 26 27 26 26 23 26 26 27 26 21 26 1.658 0.175 Bears 15 21 15 15 16 18 14 17 16 13 15 16 1.977 -0.298 49ers 9 8 9 11 11 11 11 10 8 10 16 9 2.046 -0.047 Vikings 24 19 20 23 24 26 25 23 25 24 20 23 2.121 0.175 Chiefs 14 14 17 18 12 16 15 21 14 17 17 14 2.314 0.147 Dolphins 22 16 22 20 22 24 17 22 24 21 23 22 2.385 0.734 Patriots 16 18 18 13 15 19 18 12 15 15 11 13 2.521 0.811 Colts 11 9 11 7 9 10 10 7 18 9 8 10 2.753 0.156 Steelers 18 20 19 19 17 15 16 13 10 20 19 17 2.900 0.262 Falcons 17 22 14 16 19 12 19 19 19 16 13 20 2.911 -0.026 Panthers 20 12 21 17 23 20 20 16 17 14 18 18 2.944 0.669 Giants 19 15 16 21 18 25 13 20 20 19 24 19 3.278 1.092 Saints 21 25 26 24 21 17 22 18 23 23 14 21 3.320 0.929 Texans 13 17 13 14 14 14 21 15 13 18 25 15 3.559 0.884

Observations:

The 5 most consistently-ranked teams are AFC teams. Guess it's pretty easy to figure out who the best and worst teams are in the AFC.

Bears actually have a very consistent ranking ~15th, Fox just throws a wrench in it all with a 23rd ranking.

Giants, Saints, and Texans all in the "difficult to figure out category." Maybe looking at the objective rankings can help ...

Objective Average

Objective Bengals 3 1 2 3 2 1 1 1 4 2 5 2.273 1.000 Seahawks 2 2 4 1 7 9 3 2 1 1 1 3.000 0.636 Broncos 1 4 6 2 12 12 6 10 3 5 2 5.727 1.091 Chargers 6 8 3 5 3 15 4 4 5 6 4 5.727 1.364 Cardinals 12 10 1 4 1 8 2 16 2 3 6 5.909 1.727 Ravens 7 9 5 7 4 2 5 7 8 4 8 6.000 5.091 Lions 10 3 9 8 6 7 11 5 11 7 17 8.546 5.636 49ers 11 19 7 6 14 5 12 6 6 8 3 8.818 2.273 Colts 18 17 14 10 20 4 7 3 12 14 10 11.727 5.364 Cowboys 19 18 10 15 19 3 13 8 7 10 9 11.909 4.818 Giants 17 11 8 17 8 11 8 9 15 9 18 11.909 9.727 Packers 4 5 11 9 11 18 15 17 13 12 16 11.909 6.091 Eagles 8 28 12 12 17 26 17 19 9 11 11 15.455 -2.273 Chiefs 20 14 16 14 25 13 9 25 10 17 12 15.909 4.818 Falcons 5 22 22 16 15 10 10 18 22 15 22 16.091 -5.000 Bears 9 20 17 18 13 6 21 27 17 20 19 17.000 -4.818 Texans 24 21 13 19 9 14 16 13 20 13 25 17.000 5.000 Bills 14 24 15 21 10 22 14 12 24 21 24 18.273 -3.637 Saints 16 7 25 11 21 24 19 23 21 22 15 18.546 -8.364 Patriots 15 27 24 13 28 23 25 14 14 19 7 19.000 -8.091 Steelers 13 23 19 22 16 21 23 20 18 24 13 19.273 -6.637 Panthers 25 25 18 20 5 31 27 24 16 18 14 20.273 -7.637 Dolphins 21 6 26 25 26 17 24 15 23 23 21 20.636 1.273 Browns 22 16 21 24 18 19 18 11 27 26 29 21.000 -0.182 Vikings 26 26 23 23 29 20 22 21 19 16 20 22.273 3.273 Redskins 23 13 29 27 23 16 26 22 29 27 30 24.091 -5.364 Titans 29 15 20 29 24 30 20 28 25 28 26 24.909 -4.091 Jets 27 12 30 28 22 25 28 26 30 29 27 25.818 -1.545 Rams 28 30 27 26 30 27 29 30 26 25 23 27.364 -0.728 Buccaneers 31 32 28 30 31 29 31 29 28 30 28 29.727 0.091 Raiders 30 29 32 31 32 28 30 31 31 31 31 30.546 -0.546 Jaguars 32 31 31 32 27 32 32 32 32 32 32 31.364 -0.364

Observations:

Bengals just edge out the Seahawks to take the Objective crown.

Broncos and Chargers actually have the same overall objective average. The Chargers are on par with the Broncos!

The Ravens are surging in the Objective list as well, so they've actually been playing well, and not just appearing to play well

Cowboys, Giants, and Packers all have the same 11.909 average.

Jacksonville Jaguars: not playing great football.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Raiders 30 29 32 31 32 28 30 31 31 31 31 1.157 0.112 Bengals 3 1 2 3 2 1 1 1 4 2 5 1.286 -2.258 Buccaneers 31 32 28 30 31 29 31 29 28 30 28 1.355 -1.161 Jaguars 32 31 31 32 27 32 32 32 32 32 32 1.432 -0.219 Ravens 7 9 5 7 4 2 5 7 8 4 8 2.045 -4.272 Rams 28 30 27 26 30 27 29 30 26 25 23 2.186 -3.195 Seahawks 2 2 4 1 7 9 3 2 1 1 1 2.558 -0.697 Chargers 6 8 3 5 3 15 4 4 5 6 4 3.250 -0.783 Vikings 26 26 23 23 29 20 22 21 19 16 20 3.519 0.346 Lions 10 3 9 8 6 7 11 5 11 7 17 3.577 -1.319 Steelers 13 23 19 22 16 21 23 20 18 24 13 3.720 -1.366 Broncos 1 4 6 2 12 12 6 10 3 5 2 3.792 -0.676 Giants 17 11 8 17 8 11 8 9 15 9 18 3.848 -0.248 Packers 4 5 11 9 11 18 15 17 13 12 16 4.379 -2.130 49ers 11 19 7 6 14 5 12 6 6 8 3 4.489 -2.259 Titans 29 15 20 29 24 30 20 28 25 28 26 4.542 -2.344 Cardinals 12 10 1 4 1 8 2 16 2 3 6 4.776 0.119 Jets 27 12 30 28 22 25 28 26 30 29 27 4.896 1.789 Texans 24 21 13 19 9 14 16 13 20 13 25 4.899 -0.578 Browns 22 16 21 24 18 19 18 11 27 26 29 5.063 -2.563 Bills 14 24 15 21 10 22 14 12 24 21 24 5.065 -1.814 Cowboys 19 18 10 15 19 3 13 8 7 10 9 5.071 -0.273 Chiefs 20 14 16 14 25 13 9 25 10 17 12 5.195 0.276 Redskins 23 13 29 27 23 16 26 22 29 27 30 5.213 -4.417 Colts 18 17 14 10 20 4 7 3 12 14 10 5.310 0.748 Saints 16 7 25 11 21 24 19 23 21 22 15 5.433 0.556 Bears 9 20 17 18 13 6 21 27 17 20 19 5.560 -0.483 Falcons 5 22 22 16 15 10 10 18 22 15 22 5.583 -0.862 Dolphins 21 6 26 25 26 17 24 15 23 23 21 5.709 0.933 Eagles 8 28 12 12 17 26 17 19 9 11 11 6.373 0.687 Patriots 15 27 24 13 28 23 25 14 14 19 7 6.523 -1.761 Panthers 25 25 18 20 5 31 27 24 16 18 14 6.877 1.702

Observations:

Take Aikman ratings out, and the Chargers are a solid #5, consistently. Their red zone efficiency is what hurts their ranking on Aikman's list.

Eagles, Patriots, Panthers all have more questions than answers right now. No real consensus on where they land.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Bengals 1.917 2.273 2.095 0.496 Seahawks 1.500 3.000 2.250 0.386 Broncos 3.083 5.727 4.405 0.640 Cardinals 3.833 5.909 4.871 1.174 Chargers 5.083 5.727 5.405 1.459 Ravens 6.500 6.000 6.250 3.841 Lions 7.750 8.546 8.148 5.170 49ers 10.250 8.818 9.534 3.648 Colts 9.917 11.727 10.822 4.587 Eagles 7.000 15.455 11.227 -2.500 Packers 11.250 11.909 11.580 5.511 Cowboys 11.417 11.909 11.663 6.155 Giants 19.083 11.909 15.496 7.504 Chiefs 15.750 15.909 15.830 6.125 Bears 15.917 17.000 16.458 -5.322 Texans 16.000 17.000 16.500 5.227 Falcons 17.167 16.091 16.629 -5.538 Patriots 15.250 19.000 17.125 -8.034 Steelers 16.917 19.273 18.095 -6.095 Panthers 18.000 20.273 19.136 -7.363 Saints 21.250 18.546 19.898 -7.353 Bills 23.083 18.273 20.678 -4.587 Dolphins 21.250 20.636 20.943 2.512 Browns 23.583 21.000 22.292 -0.656 Vikings 23.000 22.273 22.636 3.546 Jets 25.500 25.818 25.659 -3.159 Redskins 27.833 24.091 25.962 -4.462 Titans 29.750 24.909 27.330 -2.921 Rams 28.083 27.364 27.723 -0.496 Buccaneers 28.167 29.727 28.947 1.598 Raiders 31.750 30.546 31.148 -1.012 Jaguars 31.167 31.364 31.265 -0.083

Observations:

For some reason, I like to see where clusters emerge; it's fun to group teams together I guess. In this instance, the Bengals and Seahawks are the elite; Broncos, Cardinals, Chargers, and Ravens in the extremely good category; and so on.

Pretty sharp drop off from the Cowboys to the Giants

Overall, a good distribution of AFC and NFC teams, no one conference seems to be better than the other right now. Maybe a slight edge to the NFC, but it's not dominating.

After a decade of dominance, it is very odd to see the Patriots so far down.

The Chargers' next opponent - the Jets - is not very high in the rankings. Don't let that fool you, they're a very tough match-up every time.

After an initial round of excitement, the party is over for Minnesota it seems.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Bengals 1.917 2.273 1.018 -1.622 Raiders 31.750 30.546 1.049 0.082 Jaguars 31.167 31.364 1.072 -0.194 Buccaneers 28.167 29.727 1.501 -0.470 Ravens 6.500 6.000 1.594 -3.105 Rams 28.083 27.364 1.775 -2.201 Seahawks 1.500 3.000 2.042 -0.613 Chargers 5.083 5.727 2.445 -0.848 Lions 7.750 8.546 2.609 -1.327 Vikings 23.000 22.273 2.898 0.190 Broncos 3.083 5.727 2.987 -0.724 Packers 11.250 11.909 3.160 -1.635 49ers 10.250 8.818 3.512 -1.904 Steelers 16.917 19.273 3.520 -0.581 Cardinals 3.833 5.909 3.522 -0.250 Jets 25.500 25.818 3.595 0.584 Cowboys 11.417 11.909 3.655 -0.420 Browns 23.583 21.000 3.908 -1.737 Chiefs 15.750 15.909 3.963 -0.031 Titans 29.750 24.909 3.998 -2.097 Redskins 27.833 24.091 4.112 -3.321 Bears 15.917 17.000 4.137 -0.547 Colts 9.917 11.727 4.273 0.198 Texans 16.000 17.000 4.282 -0.037 Dolphins 21.250 20.636 4.319 0.426 Bills 23.083 18.273 4.373 -0.995 Falcons 17.167 16.091 4.429 -0.579 Saints 21.250 18.546 4.658 0.148 Giants 19.083 11.909 5.053 1.498 Patriots 15.250 19.000 5.213 -1.039 Panthers 18.000 20.273 5.332 1.243 Eagles 7.000 15.455 6.175 0.136

Observations:

As the season goes on, rankings settle in and the big picture comes into focus. That's reflected in the Standard Deviation numbers. 23 teams saw their deviation go down this week compared to last, with only 9 seeing it go up.

It's no surprise that the best and worst teams have the more consistent numbers.

Not only do the Bengals come in on top of the rankings overall, but they're decidedly the top team right now.

Also not surprising that the teams that have moved the most this week also have the higher deviations.

Five of the 6 most inconsistently-ranked teams are NFC teams. What does that mean?!

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Eagles 7.000 15.455 8.455 -0.454 Patriots 15.250 19.000 3.750 0.114 Broncos 3.083 5.727 2.644 -0.902 Steelers 16.917 19.273 2.356 1.083 Panthers 18.000 20.273 2.273 0.546 Cardinals 3.833 5.909 2.076 -1.106 Colts 9.917 11.727 1.811 -1.553 Buccaneers 28.167 29.727 1.561 3.016 Seahawks 1.500 3.000 1.500 -0.500 Bears 15.917 17.000 1.083 -1.008 Texans 16.000 17.000 1.000 0.454 Lions 7.750 8.546 0.796 -0.931 Packers 11.250 11.909 0.659 -1.159 Chargers 5.083 5.727 0.644 0.189 Cowboys 11.417 11.909 0.492 2.674 Bengals 1.917 2.273 0.356 -1.008 Jets 25.500 25.818 0.318 -3.227 Jaguars 31.167 31.364 0.197 0.561 Chiefs 15.750 15.909 0.159 2.614 Ravens 6.500 6.000 -0.500 -2.500 Dolphins 21.250 20.636 -0.614 2.477 Rams 28.083 27.364 -0.720 0.462 Vikings 23.000 22.273 -0.727 0.546 Falcons 17.167 16.091 -1.076 -1.076 Raiders 31.750 30.546 -1.205 -0.932 49ers 10.250 8.818 -1.432 2.750 Browns 23.583 21.000 -2.583 -0.947 Saints 21.250 18.546 -2.705 2.022 Redskins 27.833 24.091 -3.742 1.803 Bills 23.083 18.273 -4.811 -1.902 Titans 29.750 24.909 -4.841 2.341 Giants 19.083 11.909 -7.174 -4.447

Observations:

The media is desperate to buy into Chip Kelly, Nick Foles and the Eagles. Their status may be a bit inflated, or the objective numbers haven't caught up to them yet. So either the numbers will come up, or the Eagles will falter, regression is grand.

As far as the Patriots have fallen, they may not have fallen enough.

Nice to see the Broncos on the "slightly 'overrated'" list.

Chargers are right where they should be, they really have been playing like a top-5 football team

As much as the Eagles may be overrated, their division rivals in New York may be significantly underrated. Don't be surprised to see the Giants go on a run now.

Sources