After years of East Coast dominance, the West Coast now takes the top spot in the NFL. The AFC West and NFC West are the two best divisions in the NFL on average.

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One thing I've noticed, I'm much more excited to do these rankings after a Chargers win. As a fan, I know these rankings mean nothing when it comes to actual play on the field, but I still enjoy seeing where people think teams all rank. And when your team wins, who doesn't love to see them climb up in the rankings.

I have good news for Chargers fans: the Chargers did indeed climb in the rankings. Immediately following the win over the Colts, I took to Twitter and I put the Over/Under of the Chargers rise in the rankings this week at 7 spots. I also put the O/U on the number of spots the Colts fell at 3. BFTB user Maccy123 took the under for both, and he won!

Notable Quotes

The Chargers are a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in whatever they use to keep Ryan Mathews from falling apart for another week. If they somehow traverse this next set of games -- four of five on the road wrapped around a bye -- there could be a playoff push forthcoming. - Sports Illustrated

The best defense is a solid offense, at least in the case of the Chargers. In their 3 wins, the Chargers have dominated time of possession and have kept great QB's on the bench. This team continues to alternate skill on even and odd games. The run game has improved, but Chargers faithful must not celebrate too soon. Consistency should be the Chargers watchword for the rest of the season. - Reddit

It’s been a crawl up the ranks over the past month, but San Diego has made positive moves in five of six weeks and now sit at their highest point to date. They’ll hope to follow their Monday Night win against Indy with a fruitful trip to take on the Jags before the bye. - ProFootballFocus

Division Averages

Division Week 7 Average Week 6 Average Difference AFC West 11.5568 12.8295 1.2727 NFC West 12.7159 14.1705 1.4546 NFC North 14.3977 14.2045 -0.1932 AFC East 16.9432 15.4205 -1.5227 AFC North 17.3636 16.4432 -0.9204 NFC South 18.3182 18.6477 0.3295 AFC South 19.6705 17.3182 -2.3523 NFC East 21.0341 22.9659 1.9318

Notice anything different about the Division Averages table? Yeah, I've added in last week's ranking and the differences. What does this tell us now? Well, the AFC West is getting stronger (You're welcome, AFC West. Signed, The Chargers.) Also, the NFC South has now leapfrogged the AFC South. what's amazing about all this is that in Week 2, all 4 NFC divisions were ranked above all 4 AFC divisions. It wasn't all that long ago when the West was the laughingstock of the NFL. Who's laughing now?

Stock Rising

Team Week 6 Average Week 7 Average Difference SDG 21.150 15.875 5.275 STL 26.708 21.450 5.258 CAR 21.650 16.925 4.725 PHI 20.125 15.642 4.483 DAL 15.783 12.433 3.350

Stock Falling

Team Week 6 Average Week 7 Average Difference HOU 18.517 23.575 -5.058 NYJ 18.192 22.683 -4.491 MIN 23.817 27.858 -4.041 CLE 15.758 19.650 -3.892 BAL 11.000 13.433 -2.433

Like I said above, I had the O/U for the Chargers rise at 7 and Colts fall at 3. There was a point before all the rankings were available and in, but I had like 6 or 7 Objective rankings loaded and the Chargers had risen exactly 7.000 spots in the Objective Rankings, and the Colts fell 3.000.

The Texans continue their freefall this week. They fell over 5 spots last week as well, so now they're over 10 spots below where they were 2 weeks ago. Ouch.

Subjective Average

Subjective Broncos 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.083 Chiefs 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 4 2 3 5 2.583 1.334 Seahawks 4 3 3 2 4 3 5 4 2 3 2 3 3.167 0.666 Saints 3 5 5 5 3 5 4 3 3 5 5 2 4.000 -2.083 Patriots 5 4 4 4 6 4 3 5 6 4 4 6 4.583 1.917 49ers 7 6 7 6 5 7 7 6 8 7 6 7 6.583 0.250 Colts 6 7 6 8 9 6 6 9 5 6 7 11 7.167 -2.667 Packers 9 8 9 7 7 8 9 7 9 8 8 4 7.750 0.750 Bengals 8 10 8 11 8 13 8 10 7 9 9 8 9.083 0.000 Bears 10 11 10 10 10 10 11 8 10 10 11 10 10.083 0.917 Lions 11 9 11 9 11 9 10 11 14 11 10 12 10.667 1.083 Cowboys 13 12 14 12 12 15 14 12 12 14 13 9 12.667 2.000 Ravens 12 13 12 13 15 11 15 13 11 12 12 13 12.667 -2.667 Dolphins 14 14 13 14 13 12 12 15 13 13 14 14 13.417 -0.250 Chargers 15 16 22 17 16 16 13 16 19 15 15 15 16.250 4.250 Titans 16 15 17 15 17 19 16 19 15 16 17 16 16.500 -1.500 Eagles 17 17 15 18 18 14 18 14 17 17 16 18 16.583 5.167 Browns 18 18 24 20 20 17 19 17 21 18 21 21 19.500 -2.583 Rams 19 24 16 16 14 18 20 21 22 21 19 24 19.500 4.417 Jets 20 19 18 27 19 20 17 20 20 20 20 22 20.167 -3.084 Cardinals 21 21 21 19 22 21 21 22 23 19 18 25 21.083 -1.750 Texans 22 20 20 22 28 25 23 18 16 22 25 20 21.750 -4.917 Panthers 24 26 19 21 21 23 22 23 24 23 22 19 22.250 4.250 Falcons 23 25 23 23 23 26 25 26 18 24 24 17 23.083 -1.333 Bills 25 22 28 24 27 24 26 25 26 25 23 26 25.083 -0.416 Raiders 26 29 27 25 24 22 24 24 29 26 27 28 25.917 -2.500 Steelers 27 23 25 26 25 29 29 27 27 28 26 23 26.250 2.750 Redskins 28 28 29 28 26 27 27 28 28 27 28 29 27.750 -1.417 Vikings 29 27 26 29 29 28 28 29 25 29 29 27 27.917 -2.584 Giants 31 31 30 30 31 31 31 32 30 30 30 30 30.583 0.084 Buccaneers 30 32 31 31 30 30 30 30 32 31 31 31 30.750 -0.417 Jaguars 32 30 32 32 32 32 32 31 31 32 32 32 31.667 0.250

Observations:

Broncos are finally a unanimous top pick in the Subjective rankings. Way to get in line, SportingNews.

Chiefs have leapfrogged the Seahawks and Saints. Frankly, I think the Chiefs are more balanced than the Broncos. Yes the Broncos have a historically good offense right now, but their defense is very weak and exploitable. But that's just one guy's opinion.

Saints are still ranked above the Patriots, but not by much.

CBS is still down on the Chargers. NFL.com seems a little too high

For once, ESPN seems to be closest to the consensus.

The Jaguars are no longer the consensus worst team in the league according to pundits. A couple sites think it's the Buccaneers, but Football Outsiders begs to differ as they've found Tampa Bay to be "the best 0-5 team in DVOA history."

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Broncos 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.276 Jaguars 32 30 32 32 32 32 32 31 31 32 32 32 0.624 0.348 Giants 31 31 30 30 31 31 31 32 30 30 30 30 0.640 0.016 Buccaneers 30 32 31 31 30 30 30 30 32 31 31 31 0.722 0.098 Bears 10 11 10 10 10 10 11 8 10 10 11 10 0.759 -0.058 49ers 7 6 7 6 5 7 7 6 8 7 6 7 0.759 -0.139 Redskins 28 28 29 28 26 27 27 28 28 27 28 29 0.829 -0.871 Dolphins 14 14 13 14 13 12 12 15 13 13 14 14 0.862 -0.418 Seahawks 4 3 3 2 4 3 5 4 2 3 2 3 0.898 0.000 Patriots 5 4 4 4 6 4 3 5 6 4 4 6 0.954 0.454 Chiefs 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 4 2 3 5 0.954 0.195 Saints 3 5 5 5 3 5 4 3 3 5 5 2 1.080 0.804 Ravens 12 13 12 13 15 11 15 13 11 12 12 13 1.247 -0.436 Vikings 29 27 26 29 29 28 28 29 25 29 29 27 1.320 -1.273 Titans 16 15 17 15 17 19 16 19 15 16 17 16 1.323 0.410 Packers 9 8 9 7 7 8 9 7 9 8 8 4 1.362 -0.081 Lions 11 9 11 9 11 9 10 11 14 11 10 12 1.374 -0.160 Eagles 17 17 15 18 18 14 18 14 17 17 16 18 1.441 -0.198 Cowboys 13 12 14 12 12 15 14 12 12 14 13 9 1.491 -0.936 Bills 25 22 28 24 27 24 26 25 26 25 23 26 1.605 0.171 Bengals 8 10 8 11 8 13 8 10 7 9 9 8 1.605 -0.196 Colts 6 7 6 8 9 6 6 9 5 6 7 11 1.675 0.417 Cardinals 21 21 21 19 22 21 21 22 23 19 18 25 1.801 -0.040 Steelers 27 23 25 26 25 29 29 27 27 28 26 23 1.920 1.512 Panthers 24 26 19 21 21 23 22 23 24 23 22 19 1.963 0.408 Browns 18 18 24 20 20 17 19 17 21 18 21 21 1.979 0.273 Raiders 26 29 27 25 24 22 24 24 29 26 27 28 2.100 -0.591 Chargers 15 16 22 17 16 16 13 16 19 15 15 15 2.203 -0.014 Jets 20 19 18 27 19 20 17 20 20 20 20 22 2.375 0.669 Falcons 23 25 23 23 23 26 25 26 18 24 24 17 2.722 0.234 Rams 19 24 16 16 14 18 20 21 22 21 19 24 3.014 0.836 Texans 22 20 20 22 28 25 23 18 16 22 25 20 3.139 0.530

Observations:

Consensus at the extremes, variance in the middle.

The Texans are a team in turmoil and flux and are difficult to pin down.

Chargers are difficult to pin down as well, but only a couple sites have trouble. Most sites actually have the Chargers 16-17

Even though the Seahawks have moved a bit this week, their Standard Deviation remained the same.

Objective Average

Objective Broncos 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 6 1 2 1.800 0.000 Seahawks 2 1 5 3 7 3 3 1 3 1 2.900 0.400 Saints 4 5 4 2 1 8 5 4 4 3 4.000 -0.700 Chiefs 3 9 2 6 9 2 2 3 2 4 4.200 0.800 Colts 5 4 10 9 6 5 4 2 8 7 6.000 -2.000 Packers 7 7 3 4 11 17 6 11 5 8 7.900 1.400 49ers 10 6 7 7 8 15 8 8 7 6 8.200 0.500 Lions 12 11 8 12 14 6 10 7 9 10 9.900 2.000 Patriots 13 22 6 5 19 9 12 9 6 5 10.600 -1.100 Bengals 9 8 9 11 17 13 17 10 11 9 11.400 0.400 Panthers 8 10 21 14 15 4 7 5 18 14 11.600 5.200 Cowboys 11 13 11 8 12 18 9 12 13 15 12.200 4.700 Bears 6 14 16 15 18 7 20 13 14 11 13.400 0.200 Ravens 23 28 12 10 3 12 14 16 12 12 14.200 -2.200 Dolphins 25 23 13 13 4 16 11 18 10 13 14.600 -1.600 Eagles 15 3 17 19 13 10 18 15 17 20 14.700 3.800 Chargers 16 12 14 16 5 22 13 23 16 18 15.500 6.300 Cardinals 17 19 15 20 10 20 16 21 15 17 17.000 1.500 Titans 20 21 18 17 26 11 15 14 19 16 17.700 -3.300 Browns 24 15 19 21 16 23 22 19 20 19 19.800 -5.200 Falcons 19 24 28 18 20 27 21 17 23 22 21.900 0.500 Bills 14 25 24 24 32 14 25 20 26 24 22.800 -2.600 Rams 26 32 20 22 22 19 24 27 21 21 23.400 6.100 Redskins 30 26 23 23 21 25 23 22 25 26 24.400 0.400 Jets 18 16 26 28 30 24 29 29 27 25 25.200 -5.900 Raiders 28 29 22 30 23 26 19 26 22 28 25.300 0.300 Texans 29 20 25 26 25 28 30 24 24 23 25.400 -5.200 Steelers 21 18 27 25 29 30 28 28 29 29 26.400 1.900 Buccaneers 22 30 30 29 31 21 26 25 31 31 27.600 -2.600 Vikings 27 27 29 27 27 29 27 30 28 27 27.800 -5.500 Giants 31 17 31 31 24 31 31 31 30 30 28.700 1.100 Jaguars 32 31 32 32 28 32 32 32 32 32 31.500 0.400

Observations:

Chargers climbed more in the Objective rankings than the Subjective. Most likely thanks to the strength of the last opponent.

In Objective average, the Broncos haven't moved at all this week.

Chiefs passed the Colts and are close to passing the Saints.

Interesting that Team Efficiency has the Giants at 17th.

19 teams saw their average improve this week

Nearly 3 full spots separate the Giants from the Jaguars

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Vikings 27 27 29 27 27 29 27 30 28 27 1.077 -1.788 Jaguars 32 31 32 32 28 32 32 32 32 32 1.204 0.904 Broncos 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 6 1 2 1.470 0.221 Saints 4 5 4 2 1 8 5 4 4 3 1.789 -0.214 Seahawks 2 1 5 3 7 3 3 1 3 1 1.814 0.545 Lions 12 11 8 12 14 6 10 7 9 10 2.343 -0.357 Colts 5 4 10 9 6 5 4 2 8 7 2.366 1.271 Redskins 30 26 23 23 21 25 23 22 25 26 2.458 -0.024 49ers 10 6 7 7 8 15 8 8 7 6 2.522 0.675 Chiefs 3 9 2 6 9 2 2 3 2 4 2.676 -0.117 Browns 24 15 19 21 16 23 22 19 20 19 2.713 -1.511 Cowboys 11 13 11 8 12 18 9 12 13 15 2.713 -2.587 Texans 29 20 25 26 25 28 30 24 24 23 2.836 -1.676 Cardinals 17 19 15 20 10 20 16 21 15 17 3.098 -1.446 Bengals 9 8 9 11 17 13 17 10 11 9 3.105 0.078 Raiders 28 29 22 30 23 26 19 26 22 28 3.437 0.709 Falcons 19 24 28 18 20 27 21 17 23 22 3.477 -0.078 Buccaneers 22 30 30 29 31 21 26 25 31 31 3.639 -0.811 Steelers 21 18 27 25 29 30 28 28 29 29 3.747 0.745 Rams 26 32 20 22 22 19 24 27 21 21 3.747 2.941 Packers 7 7 3 4 11 17 6 11 5 8 3.936 0.036 Titans 20 21 18 17 26 11 15 14 19 16 3.951 0.598 Bears 6 14 16 15 18 7 20 13 14 11 4.200 0.145 Giants 31 17 31 31 24 31 31 31 30 30 4.406 0.461 Jets 18 16 26 28 30 24 29 29 27 25 4.490 -0.307 Eagles 15 3 17 19 13 10 18 15 17 20 4.797 -1.795 Chargers 16 12 14 16 5 22 13 23 16 18 4.863 0.794 Bills 14 25 24 24 32 14 25 20 26 24 5.212 -0.207 Panthers 8 10 21 14 15 4 7 5 18 14 5.389 -1.211 Patriots 13 22 6 5 19 9 12 9 6 5 5.643 0.780 Dolphins 25 23 13 13 4 16 11 18 10 13 5.886 -1.042 Ravens 23 28 12 10 3 12 14 16 12 12 6.585 -1.276

Observations:

Ravens are still the least consistently–ranked team this week. Though they're improving. Unfortunately for the Ravens it's because all their rankings are going down.

Chargers' ranking consistency got worse this week.

Dolphins rank anywhere from 4th to 25th. Ravens 3rd to 28th. Can't wait to see a team be simultaneously ranked 1st and 32nd

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Broncos 1.000 1.800 1.400 0.042 Seahawks 3.167 2.900 3.033 0.534 Chiefs 2.583 4.200 3.392 1.066 Saints 4.000 4.000 4.000 -1.392 Colts 7.167 6.000 6.583 -2.333 49ers 6.583 8.200 7.392 0.375 Patriots 4.583 10.600 7.592 0.408 Packers 7.750 7.900 7.825 1.075 Bengals 9.083 11.400 10.242 0.200 Lions 10.667 9.900 10.283 1.542 Bears 10.083 13.400 11.742 0.558 Cowboys 12.667 12.200 12.433 3.350 Ravens 12.667 14.200 13.433 -2.433 Dolphins 13.417 14.600 14.008 -0.925 Eagles 16.583 14.700 15.642 4.483 Chargers 16.250 15.500 15.875 5.275 Panthers 22.250 11.600 16.925 4.725 Titans 16.500 17.700 17.100 -2.400 Cardinals 21.083 17.000 19.042 -0.125 Browns 19.500 19.800 19.650 -3.892 Rams 19.500 23.400 21.450 5.258 Falcons 23.083 21.900 22.492 -0.417 Jets 20.167 25.200 22.683 -4.491 Texans 21.750 25.400 23.575 -5.058 Bills 25.083 22.800 23.942 -1.509 Raiders 25.917 25.300 25.608 -1.100 Redskins 27.750 24.400 26.075 -0.508 Steelers 26.250 26.400 26.325 2.325 Vikings 27.917 27.800 27.858 -4.041 Buccaneers 30.750 27.600 29.175 -1.508 Giants 30.583 28.700 29.642 0.591 Jaguars 31.667 31.500 31.583 0.325

Observations:

Broncos retain the top spot, and by a significant margin.

Chiefs challenging the Seahawks.

NFC teams now have a 7-to-5 advantage in the top 12.

The bottom 12 is evenly split between AFC and NFC teams.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Jaguars 31.667 31.500 0.937 0.649 Broncos 1.000 1.800 1.068 0.131 Vikings 27.917 27.800 1.217 -1.894 Seahawks 3.167 2.900 1.397 0.283 Saints 4.000 4.000 1.446 -0.083 Lions 10.667 9.900 1.916 -0.230 49ers 6.583 8.200 1.963 0.274 Chiefs 2.583 4.200 2.097 0.060 Colts 7.167 6.000 2.101 0.888 Cowboys 12.667 12.200 2.148 -2.001 Browns 19.500 19.800 2.346 -0.975 Redskins 27.750 24.400 2.430 0.203 Bengals 9.083 11.400 2.668 -0.118 Raiders 25.917 25.300 2.805 -0.113 Packers 7.750 7.900 2.839 -0.026 Steelers 26.250 26.400 2.898 0.822 Titans 16.500 17.700 2.900 0.522 Buccaneers 30.750 27.600 2.960 -1.073 Falcons 23.083 21.900 3.144 0.107 Giants 30.583 28.700 3.151 0.418 Cardinals 21.083 17.000 3.204 -0.173 Bears 10.083 13.400 3.326 0.242 Texans 21.750 25.400 3.512 -0.460 Eagles 16.583 14.700 3.531 -1.351 Chargers 16.250 15.500 3.679 0.419 Bills 25.083 22.800 3.879 -0.527 Rams 19.500 23.400 3.887 0.629 Dolphins 13.417 14.600 4.062 -0.704 Jets 20.167 25.200 4.304 0.662 Ravens 12.667 14.200 4.598 -0.936 Patriots 4.583 10.600 4.893 1.271 Panthers 22.250 11.600 6.590 -0.077

Observations:

It's not often when the Patriots are at the bottom of the Standard Deviation list. The models of consistency have been anything but this year.

6 of the 10 most consistently ranked teams are in the NFC. 7 of the 10 least consistently ranked teams are in the AFC.

The Steelers and Packers both have Objective and Subjective rankings that are only 0.150 apart, yet their Standard Deviation is near 3.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Patriots 4.583 10.600 6.017 3.017 Jets 20.167 25.200 5.033 2.816 Rams 19.500 23.400 3.900 -1.683 Texans 21.750 25.400 3.650 0.283 Bears 10.083 13.400 3.317 0.717 Bengals 9.083 11.400 2.317 -0.400 49ers 6.583 8.200 1.617 -0.250 Chiefs 2.583 4.200 1.617 0.534 Ravens 12.667 14.200 1.533 -0.467 Titans 16.500 17.700 1.200 1.800 Dolphins 13.417 14.600 1.183 1.350 Broncos 1.000 1.800 0.800 0.083 Browns 19.500 19.800 0.300 2.617 Packers 7.750 7.900 0.150 -0.650 Steelers 26.250 26.400 0.150 0.850 Saints 4.000 4.000 0.000 -1.383 Vikings 27.917 27.800 -0.117 2.916 Jaguars 31.667 31.500 -0.167 -0.150 Seahawks 3.167 2.900 -0.267 0.266 Cowboys 12.667 12.200 -0.467 -2.700 Raiders 25.917 25.300 -0.617 -2.800 Chargers 16.250 15.500 -0.750 -2.050 Lions 10.667 9.900 -0.767 -0.917 Colts 7.167 6.000 -1.167 -0.667 Falcons 23.083 21.900 -1.183 -1.833 Giants 30.583 28.700 -1.883 -1.016 Eagles 16.583 14.700 -1.883 1.367 Bills 25.083 22.800 -2.283 2.184 Buccaneers 30.750 27.600 -3.150 2.183 Redskins 27.750 24.400 -3.350 -1.817 Cardinals 21.083 17.000 -4.083 -3.250 Panthers 22.250 11.600 -10.650 -0.950

Observations:

The Patriots overrated? Say it ain't so!

Carolina will probably always be under-ranked this year.

8 of the 10 most "under-ranked" teams are in the NFC.

Chargers are actually ever so slightly "under-ranked"

Sources