That was one of the more fun wins in recent memory, wasn't it? It was a statement win: the San Diego Chargers are capable of winning a shootout. Who cares about the subpar defense, did you notice Philip Rivers has been fixed?!

The overall narrative when it comes to talking about the Chargers this week has been, "yeah they won, but ...", which is valid. Despite recent trends showing they should be, let's not anoint the Chargers as Super Bowl champions just yet. Still, it was a great win and the Chargers were rewarded nicely in the rankings.

Notable Quotes

This season, Philip Rivers has delivered a big "FU" -- as in, five touchdown passes to you, Eddie Royal -- to his detractors. All those who said Rivers' game was in decline and that the Chargers wideout stunk had to eat it on Sunday. How's this for a stat line? Rivers was 36-of-47 passing for 419 yards and three scores. He even had a 12-yard run, which, for him, is like Tony Dorsett going for 99.

-- NFL.com

The Chargers continue to be the NFL's Rubik's Cube. As soon as you think you have them figured out, they reveal another totally screwed up side. Kudos to Mike McCoy, though, on his first win -- and especially for keeping his team together on a short week after a Monday night meltdown against Houston.

-- Sports Illustrated

Philip Rivers showed up in a big way Sunday. Rivers was 7-of-9 against extra rushers in the fourth quarter, including the crucial TD to Eddie Royal.

-- ESPN

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking NFC West 11.9375 NFC North 14.7500 AFC East 15.4250 AFC West 15.5375 NFC South 15.9750 AFC South 18.6125 AFC North 19.8125 NFC East 19.9500

Observations

So last week, all four NFC teams were ranked higher than all four AFC teams. Things have shifted quite a bit this week.

Stock Rising

Team Week 2 Average Week 3 Average Difference SDG 25.865 18.063 7.802 KC 21.635 14.542 7.093 BUF 25.750 20.292 5.458 MIA 16.250 11.063 5.187 ARI 25.692 21.021 4.671

Observations

Oh man, it's so satisfying to see the Chargers atop this list.

Chiefs aren't too far behind either. The Chargers and Chiefs actually are why the AFC West climbed as a division so much this week to become the 4th-best division in the NFL.

Stock Falling

Team Week 2 Average Week 3 Average Difference WAS 16.904 24.354 -7.450 SF 2.769 7.083 -4.314 CAR 17.500 21.438 -3.938 PHI 15.808 19.521 -3.713 IND 13.635 16.917 -3.282

Observations

Everyone off the Redskins bandwagon! RGIII isn't the second coming! Okay, that's a stretch, but Washington has some issues still.

After looking impressive in their opening game, it looked like the 49ers missed their flight to Seattle

Subjective Average

Subjective Broncos 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1.333 0.513 Seahawks 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1.667 1.025 49ers 3 3 6 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3.417 -1.878 Texans 4 4 4 6 3 3 5 4 4 5 4 5 4.250 0.673 Packers 5 6 8 4 5 5 4 6 6 4 5 4 5.167 0.987 Patriots 7 5 3 9 8 8 6 5 5 10 7 6 6.583 -1.198 Saints 8 11 5 5 6 7 8 7 7 6 6 8 7.000 0.231 Bears 9 7 9 7 7 10 7 8 8 7 8 9 8.000 1.308 Falcons 6 8 7 8 10 9 9 10 9 8 9 7 8.333 -0.102 Bengals 10 9 12 11 12 11 10 11 10 9 13 10 10.667 0.564 Ravens 11 12 15 10 13 6 12 9 11 11 12 12 11.167 -0.552 Chiefs 13 10 11 12 9 13 13 12 13 12 10 11 11.583 6.186 Dolphins 12 13 10 14 11 12 11 14 12 13 11 14 12.250 5.750 Cowboys 15 14 13 13 14 16 14 13 15 14 14 13 14.000 -2.231 Colts 14 15 14 17 16 19 15 15 14 16 15 17 15.583 -2.814 Chargers 16 16 17 18 20 14 16 20 21 17 16 19 17.500 8.731 Eagles 19 19 18 20 23 15 17 16 18 15 17 15 17.667 -3.052 Rams 17 18 16 16 17 20 18 18 20 20 18 18 18.000 -1.538 Lions 18 17 21 19 22 18 20 19 16 18 19 21 19.000 -2.923 Titans 22 20 19 15 15 23 22 22 17 22 20 23 20.000 1.308 Giants 20 24 22 21 19 22 25 17 24 19 23 16 21.000 -3.538 Cardinals 21 23 20 22 21 17 19 25 22 23 21 26 21.667 3.718 Bills 26 21 25 23 18 24 21 26 26 26 22 22 23.333 3.667 Redskins 24 26 27 26 28 26 24 23 19 21 25 20 24.083 -5.775 Vikings 23 25 24 25 24 25 26 21 25 24 24 24 24.167 -2.628 Steelers 25 27 23 24 26 29 29 24 27 27 27 25 26.083 -1.852 Jets 28 29 26 30 25 28 27 28 23 28 26 29 27.250 0.058 Panthers 27 28 29 31 30 27 23 27 28 25 28 27 27.500 -4.500 Raiders 29 31 28 29 27 21 30 29 29 29 30 31 28.583 1.571 Buccaneers 30 22 30 28 29 31 28 30 30 30 29 30 28.917 -1.455 Browns 31 30 31 27 31 30 31 31 31 31 31 28 30.250 -0.250 Jaguars 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

Last week, the 49ers were at the top of the subjective rankings. This week, it's the Broncos. The same thing happened last year: a team gets to the top of the rankings, and they promptly lose the next week. Hmmm, put Oakland down for Upset of the Week?

Seattle is barely behind the Broncos, but the Broncos got twice as many first-place votes as Seattle.

The Chargers are 1/6th a spot higher than the Eagles this week.

Three of four AFC West teams are ranked in the top half of the league.

Surprise sleeper: Dolphins?

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Jaguars 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.000 0.000 Seahawks 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 0.471 -0.350 Broncos 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 0.471 -0.298 Texans 4 4 4 6 3 3 5 4 4 5 4 5 0.829 -0.440 49ers 3 3 6 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 0.862 0.363 Cowboys 15 14 13 13 14 16 14 13 15 14 14 13 0.913 -0.933 Bears 9 7 9 7 7 10 7 8 8 7 8 9 1.000 -0.682 Packers 5 6 8 4 5 5 4 6 6 4 5 4 1.143 -0.263 Falcons 6 8 7 8 10 9 9 10 9 8 9 7 1.179 -1.045 Bengals 10 9 12 11 12 11 10 11 10 9 13 10 1.179 -0.244 Vikings 23 25 24 25 24 25 26 21 25 24 24 24 1.213 -0.848 Dolphins 12 13 10 14 11 12 11 14 12 13 11 14 1.299 -0.920 Browns 31 30 31 27 31 30 31 31 31 31 31 28 1.299 0.059 Chiefs 13 10 11 12 9 13 13 12 13 12 10 11 1.320 -0.904 Rams 17 18 16 16 17 20 18 18 20 20 18 18 1.354 -0.781 Colts 14 15 14 17 16 19 15 15 14 16 15 17 1.441 -1.524 Saints 8 11 5 5 6 7 8 7 7 6 6 8 1.581 -0.425 Lions 18 17 21 19 22 18 20 19 16 18 19 21 1.683 -0.843 Steelers 25 27 23 24 26 29 29 24 27 27 27 25 1.847 -0.307 Jets 28 29 26 30 25 28 27 28 23 28 26 29 1.876 -0.061 Patriots 7 5 3 9 8 8 6 5 5 10 7 6 1.891 0.680 Panthers 27 28 29 31 30 27 23 27 28 25 28 27 2.021 -0.521 Chargers 16 16 17 18 20 14 16 20 21 17 16 19 2.021 -0.271 Ravens 11 12 15 10 13 6 12 9 11 11 12 12 2.115 -0.223 Buccaneers 30 22 30 28 29 31 28 30 30 30 29 30 2.253 0.607 Eagles 19 19 18 20 23 15 17 16 18 15 17 15 2.285 -1.406 Cardinals 21 23 20 22 21 17 19 25 22 23 21 26 2.357 0.299 Bills 26 21 25 23 18 24 21 26 26 26 22 22 2.494 0.346 Raiders 29 31 28 29 27 21 30 29 29 29 30 31 2.532 1.182 Redskins 24 26 27 26 28 26 24 23 19 21 25 20 2.722 -0.817 Giants 20 24 22 21 19 22 25 17 24 19 23 16 2.739 0.302 Titans 22 20 19 15 15 23 22 22 17 22 20 23 2.799 0.128

Observations:

Jags: yup.

The Broncos and Seahawks having the same Standard Deviation just means they are battling for the top spot. Right now they could really just be interchangeable, I think the deciding factor would be where the game was played if they played each other.

Chargers one of the more inconsistently-ranked teams.

The Chargers' next opponent - the Titans - are the least consistently-ranked team; though there's a decent number of rankers who think they're 22-23.

Objective Average

Objective Broncos 1 1 5 8 2 1 1 4 2.875 -1.875 Seahawks 2 2 10 5 3 2 2 1 3.375 -0.375 Patriots 4 3 1 4 19 4 3 2 5.000 -2.000 Saints 6 8 7 1 18 3 5 8 7.000 1.000 Texans 10 7 4 2 5 18 6 5 7.125 0.875 Dolphins 15 4 18 3 4 14 9 12 9.875 4.625 Bears 8 9 12 7 6 24 8 6 10.000 0.000 Falcons 9 10 9 6 20 7 11 11 10.375 2.625 49ers 12 5 2 12 28 20 4 3 10.750 -6.750 Packers 3 11 3 21 15 28 7 7 11.875 -5.875 Ravens 13 6 11 14 24 17 10 9 13.000 -4.000 Bengals 7 12 14 16 11 23 12 10 13.125 -0.625 Panthers 5 18 24 24 14 5 16 17 15.375 -3.375 Lions 19 23 15 26 8 15 17 14 17.125 -0.625 Bills 21 15 25 15 13 11 15 23 17.250 7.250 Cowboys 23 24 8 17 23 8 21 15 17.375 0.125 Chiefs 17 22 30 9 1 10 24 27 17.500 8.000 Rams 26 13 26 13 17 13 13 21 17.750 2.750 Jets 24 19 28 18 10 9 18 18 18.000 3.500 Colts 18 14 21 10 12 19 26 26 18.250 -3.750 Chargers 22 17 16 11 22 25 14 22 18.625 6.875 Buccaneers 14 25 19 28 9 6 25 29 19.375 -0.875 Cardinals 28 20 29 20 16 12 19 19 20.375 5.625 Giants 25 26 6 27 29 16 23 16 21.000 -2.500 Eagles 11 27 22 23 7 29 27 25 21.375 -4.375 Titans 27 16 23 19 21 22 20 24 21.500 -0.500 Vikings 30 21 20 31 27 21 22 20 24.000 1.000 Redskins 16 31 17 32 26 32 30 13 24.625 -9.125 Steelers 20 30 13 30 30 30 28 28 26.125 -1.625 Raiders 29 29 31 22 25 27 29 31 27.875 2.625 Browns 31 28 27 25 31 26 31 30 28.625 0.875 Jaguars 32 32 32 29 32 31 32 32 31.500 0.500

Observations:

More sources! New this week: Massey and ARGH ratings. Those are in addition to old standbys returning this week.

Still using the DAVE rankings for Football Outsiders

Chargers are all over the board, and in fact are kind of the opposite to the Buccaneers. Some sites are high on Bucs and down on Chargers, or vice-versa.

The Patriots may not have looked impressive in their first two games, but they're still doing something right.

It's no longer unanimous that the Jaguars are the worst team. Amusingly, the two sites that don't have the Jaguars ranked last do have the Redskins as last.

Aikman has the Chiefs ranked 1st. That seems like a bit of a ... stretch. In fact, the Chiefs are ranked anywhere from 1st to 30th.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Jaguars 32 32 32 29 32 31 32 32 1.000 1.000 Browns 31 28 27 25 31 26 31 30 2.288 0.788 Broncos 1 1 5 8 2 1 1 4 2.421 2.421 Seahawks 2 2 10 5 3 2 2 1 2.736 1.736 Raiders 29 29 31 22 25 27 29 31 2.891 2.391 Titans 27 16 23 19 21 22 20 24 3.123 -0.877 Falcons 9 10 9 6 20 7 11 11 3.998 2.998 Vikings 30 21 20 31 27 21 22 20 4.301 -0.699 Bengals 7 12 14 16 11 23 12 10 4.484 1.984 Chargers 22 17 16 11 22 25 14 22 4.526 3.026 Texans 10 7 4 2 5 18 6 5 4.649 3.649 Bills 21 15 25 15 13 11 15 23 4.737 3.237 Saints 6 8 7 1 18 3 5 8 4.743 4.743 Ravens 13 6 11 14 24 17 10 9 5.196 1.196 Lions 19 23 15 26 8 15 17 14 5.231 4.731 Cardinals 28 20 29 20 16 12 19 19 5.314 4.314 Dolphins 15 4 18 3 4 14 9 12 5.372 1.872 Patriots 4 3 1 4 19 4 3 2 5.385 4.385 Rams 26 13 26 13 17 13 13 21 5.449 -3.051 Bears 8 9 12 7 6 24 8 6 5.590 1.590 Colts 18 14 21 10 12 19 26 26 5.629 1.129 Steelers 20 30 13 30 30 30 28 28 5.883 1.383 Jets 24 19 28 18 10 9 18 18 5.937 5.437 Cowboys 23 24 8 17 23 8 21 15 6.143 1.643 Panthers 5 18 24 24 14 5 16 17 6.855 0.855 Giants 25 26 6 27 29 16 23 16 7.246 4.746 Redskins 16 31 17 32 26 32 30 13 7.482 -1.018 Eagles 11 27 22 23 7 29 27 25 7.516 5.516 Buccaneers 14 25 19 28 9 6 25 29 8.260 0.760 Packers 3 11 3 21 15 28 7 7 8.358 5.358 49ers 12 5 2 12 28 20 4 3 8.671 7.671 Chiefs 17 22 30 9 1 10 24 27 9.421 6.921

Observations:

Remember above how I said the Chiefs were ranked anywhere from 1st to 30th? Well that gives them the title of least consistently-ranked team.

49ers, Packers and Buccaneers aren't too far behind the Chiefs.

Interesting: 8 of the 9 most inconsistently-ranked teams are in the NFC.

Chargers are in the top 30% in ranking consistency, though their Standard Deviation is still relatively high.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Broncos 1.333 2.875 2.104 -0.681 Seahawks 1.667 3.375 2.521 0.325 Texans 4.250 7.125 5.688 0.774 Patriots 6.583 5.000 5.792 -1.600 Saints 7.000 7.000 7.000 0.615 49ers 3.417 10.750 7.083 -4.314 Packers 5.167 11.875 8.521 -2.444 Bears 8.000 10.000 9.000 0.654 Falcons 8.333 10.375 9.354 1.261 Dolphins 12.250 9.875 11.063 5.187 Bengals 10.667 13.125 11.896 -0.031 Ravens 11.167 13.000 12.083 -2.275 Chiefs 11.583 17.500 14.542 7.093 Cowboys 14.000 17.375 15.688 -1.053 Colts 15.583 18.250 16.917 -3.282 Rams 18.000 17.750 17.875 0.606 Chargers 17.500 18.625 18.063 7.802 Lions 19.000 17.125 18.063 -1.775 Eagles 17.667 21.375 19.521 -3.713 Bills 23.333 17.250 20.292 5.458 Titans 20.000 21.500 20.750 0.404 Giants 21.000 21.000 21.000 -3.019 Cardinals 21.667 20.375 21.021 4.671 Panthers 27.500 15.375 21.438 -3.938 Jets 27.250 18.000 22.625 1.779 Vikings 24.167 24.000 24.083 -0.814 Buccaneers 28.917 19.375 24.146 -1.165 Redskins 24.083 24.625 24.354 -7.450 Steelers 26.083 26.125 26.104 -1.739 Raiders 28.583 27.875 28.229 2.098 Browns 30.250 28.625 29.438 0.312 Jaguars 32.000 31.500 31.750 0.250

Observations:

The Broncos retain their top spot, with the Seahawks still not far behind.

Does it console anyone out there that the Chargers lost in Week 1 to the third-highest ranked team (overall) in the NFL?

It's nice to see that even overall, the top-12 is evenly split between NFC and AFC teams. If we seeded teams based on rankings, the Chiefs would just miss out on the playoffs.

Chargers remain right around the middle.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Jaguars 32.000 31.500 0.678 0.678 Broncos 1.333 2.875 1.746 0.974 Browns 30.250 28.625 1.934 0.645 Seahawks 1.667 3.375 1.956 1.102 Raiders 28.583 27.875 2.704 1.429 Falcons 8.333 10.375 2.868 0.213 Vikings 24.167 24.000 2.879 -0.019 Titans 20.000 21.500 3.023 0.137 Bengals 10.667 13.125 3.214 1.549 Saints 7.000 7.000 3.240 1.354 Chargers 17.500 18.625 3.309 1.092 Texans 4.250 7.125 3.323 1.704 Rams 18.000 17.750 3.604 -0.329 Lions 19.000 17.125 3.673 1.310 Dolphins 12.250 9.875 3.730 1.025 Bears 8.000 10.000 3.750 1.596 Ravens 11.167 13.000 3.780 1.102 Patriots 6.583 5.000 3.788 2.352 Cardinals 21.667 20.375 3.877 1.915 Colts 15.583 18.250 3.953 0.687 Steelers 26.083 26.125 3.986 1.392 Cowboys 14.000 17.375 4.281 1.207 Bills 23.333 17.250 4.647 2.406 Giants 21.000 21.000 5.050 2.579 Redskins 24.083 24.625 5.188 0.562 Eagles 17.667 21.375 5.388 1.783 Jets 27.250 18.000 6.062 3.382 Packers 5.167 11.875 6.287 4.579 49ers 3.417 10.750 6.590 5.566 Chiefs 11.583 17.500 6.704 3.236 Buccaneers 28.917 19.375 7.224 2.850 Panthers 27.500 15.375 7.519 2.581

Observations:

There's consensus at the top and bottom of the rankings.

There's relatively good consensus about the Chargers' positioning.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj 49ers 3.417 10.750 7.333 4.871 Packers 5.167 11.875 6.708 6.862 Chiefs 11.583 17.500 5.917 -1.814 Eagles 17.667 21.375 3.708 1.323 Cowboys 14.000 17.375 3.375 -2.356 Texans 4.250 7.125 2.875 -0.202 Colts 15.583 18.250 2.667 0.936 Bengals 10.667 13.125 2.458 1.189 Falcons 8.333 10.375 2.042 -2.727 Bears 8.000 10.000 2.000 1.308 Ravens 11.167 13.000 1.833 3.448 Seahawks 1.667 3.375 1.708 1.400 Broncos 1.333 2.875 1.542 2.388 Titans 20.000 21.500 1.500 1.808 Chargers 17.500 18.625 1.125 1.856 Redskins 24.083 24.625 0.542 3.350 Steelers 26.083 26.125 0.042 -0.227 Saints 7.000 7.000 0.000 -0.769 Giants 21.000 21.000 0.000 -1.039 Vikings 24.167 24.000 -0.167 -3.629 Rams 18.000 17.750 -0.250 -4.289 Jaguars 32.000 31.500 -0.500 -0.500 Raiders 28.583 27.875 -0.708 -1.054 Cardinals 21.667 20.375 -1.292 -1.907 Patriots 6.583 5.000 -1.583 0.802 Browns 30.250 28.625 -1.625 -1.125 Lions 19.000 17.125 -1.875 -2.298 Dolphins 12.250 9.875 -2.375 1.125 Bills 23.333 17.250 -6.083 -3.583 Jets 27.250 18.000 -9.250 -3.442 Buccaneers 28.917 19.375 -9.542 -0.580 Panthers 27.500 15.375 -12.125 -1.125

Observations:

Early in the season, the Objective Rankings aren't as reliable predictors as they are in the later season. However, do the 49ers have more to fall in coming games?

Are rankers a little too high on the Chiefs so far?

Chargers are pretty consistent in their ranking across the board. Not phenomenal, nor are they terrible.

Wow, are the rankers way down on the Bills, Jets, Buccaneers and Panthers. It'll be interesting to see which way they correct, if they end up playing better than the perception is or not.

Sources