A number of pundits are all-in on the Chargers, placing them at the top of their Power Rankings this week. Do they belong there?

The Chargers are on a roll. Between the Padres and our history with the Chargers, I've been having trouble buy in completely. I've been staying a little back to protect myself. Almost shielding myself from the blast I expect to come from the team.

But the thing is, this Chargers team is actually, y'know, good.

I was skeptical to start. I'm now all in on these Chargers, I'll fly high when they do well and take the heartbreak when and if they don't.

Notable Quotes

San Diego shut out the Jets for the first time in 34 meetings. Branden Oliver had 114 rushing yards and a touchdown. If not already, start taking these guys seriously. - ESPN

In Sunday’s biggest blowout, the Chargers once again proved why they are one of the league’s premier teams. Philip Rivers was on point utilizing Antonio Gates and a new weapon Branden Oliver who stepped in for the injured Donald Brown. Oliver looked like a beefed-up version of Darren Sproles, racking up 182 yards on 24 touches while forcing six missed tackles in the open field. The Chargers are getting it done on both sides of the ball. - Fox Sports

Not since those henchmen from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade kept getting their heads cut off trying to get the Holy Grail for the Nazis has an occupation come fraught with as much peril being the Chargers' center. And if Branden Oliver gets hurt, I think Natrone Means may be next up at running back. - Sports Illustrated

Division Averages

Division Week 5 Average Week 6 Average Difference NFC West 11.0870 11.5227 -0.4357 AFC West 14.1848 13.1705 1.0143 AFC North 12.1848 13.6136 -1.4288 NFC East 16.0978 14.8977 1.2001 NFC North 14.6957 16.6250 -1.9293 AFC East 21.1087 19.2955 1.8132 AFC South 21.4891 21.3295 0.1596 NFC South 21.1522 21.5455 -0.3933

Stock Rising

Team Week 5 Average Week 6 Average Difference NE 17.125 11.636 5.489 BUF 20.678 16.955 3.723 GB 11.580 7.909 3.671 IND 10.822 7.909 2.913 SDG 5.405 2.818 2.587

Stock Falling

Team Week 5 Average Week 6 Average Difference ARI 4.871 10.091 -5.220 DET 8.148 13.091 -4.943 ATL 16.629 21.046 -4.417 CHI 16.458 20.364 -3.906 BAL 6.250 9.818 -3.568

Subjective Average

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit AP Average Change in Value Seahawks 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1.273 0.227 Broncos 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2.273 0.810 Chargers 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 4 3 3 3 2.546 2.537 Bengals 5 8 4 6 6 6 4 8 4 4 5 5.455 -3.538 Eagles 4 6 6 5 4 5 6 9 8 7 4 5.818 1.182 Colts 8 4 9 4 5 8 7 3 10 6 7 6.455 3.462 49ers 7 5 8 8 8 11 9 5 6 8 8 7.546 2.704 Cowboys 6 7 7 7 7 9 12 10 7 11 6 8.091 3.326 Packers 9 9 10 9 9 7 5 6 9 9 9 8.273 2.977 Cardinals 10 12 5 11 10 4 8 12 5 5 10 8.364 -4.531 Patriots 11 15 12 10 12 12 11 7 13 10 11 11.273 3.977 Ravens 12 11 13 12 11 10 10 11 11 12 12 11.364 -4.864 Lions 14 10 14 14 16 16 14 14 15 13 15 14.091 -6.341 Giants 13 14 11 17 14 19 13 16 14 15 13 14.455 4.628 Panthers 15 13 16 13 13 13 18 15 16 14 14 14.546 3.454 Steelers 16 23 18 16 21 15 15 13 12 20 17 16.909 0.008 Texans 17 19 17 15 18 18 21 18 18 18 18 17.909 -1.909 Chiefs 19 16 15 21 17 20 16 22 19 17 16 18.000 -2.250 Bills 18 18 19 18 15 14 22 19 17 19 19 18.000 5.083 Bears 22 24 22 19 22 23 19 20 20 16 20 20.636 -4.719 Saints 20 22 21 22 20 17 23 17 22 22 21 20.636 0.614 Browns 23 20 24 24 19 21 20 24 21 23 22 21.909 1.674 Dolphins 24 17 23 20 23 24 17 23 24 24 23 22.000 -0.750 Falcons 21 25 20 23 24 22 24 21 23 21 24 22.546 -5.379 Vikings 25 21 25 25 25 26 26 25 25 25 25 24.818 -1.818 Rams 28 26 26 27 28 27 25 26 29 27 27 26.909 1.174 Redskins 26 28 29 26 27 29 27 27 28 26 28 27.364 0.469 Buccaneers 27 27 27 28 26 28 28 29 26 30 26 27.455 0.712 Jets 30 29 28 29 30 25 29 28 27 28 30 28.455 -2.955 Titans 29 30 30 30 29 30 30 30 30 29 29 29.636 0.114 Jaguars 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 32 31 32 31.273 -0.106 Raiders 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31 32 31 31.727 0.023

Observations:

The teams at 1-2-3 are pretty much set. We have Seahawks, Broncos, and Chargers; then everyone else.

Bengals tumble a little after the loss to the Patriots. Pats climbed more than Bengals fell.

Cowboys cracking the top-10. All but 2 pundits have them in the top-10.

Cardinals tumbling a bit too after losing by 3 touchdowns to the Broncos.

Jets slide on down and cozy up with the Titans, Jaguars and Raiders at the botto of the list.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit AP STD DEV Change in Value Jaguars 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 32 31 32 0.445 -0.108 Broncos 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 0.445 -0.314 Raiders 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31 32 31 0.445 0.012 Seahawks 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 0.445 -0.512 Titans 29 30 30 30 29 30 30 30 30 29 29 0.481 -0.241 Ravens 12 11 13 12 11 10 10 11 11 12 12 0.881 -0.076 Chargers 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 4 3 3 3 0.988 -0.268 Redskins 26 28 29 26 27 29 27 27 28 26 28 1.068 0.170 Rams 28 26 26 27 28 27 25 26 29 27 27 1.083 -0.104 Buccaneers 27 27 27 28 26 28 28 29 26 30 26 1.233 0.020 Vikings 25 21 25 25 25 26 26 25 25 25 25 1.266 -0.855 Texans 17 19 17 15 18 18 21 18 18 18 18 1.379 -2.180 Jets 30 29 28 29 30 25 29 28 27 28 30 1.437 -0.221 Bengals 5 8 4 6 6 6 4 8 4 4 5 1.437 0.797 Packers 9 9 10 9 9 7 5 6 9 9 9 1.483 0.319 Falcons 21 25 20 23 24 22 24 21 23 21 24 1.559 -1.352 Panthers 15 13 16 13 13 13 18 15 16 14 14 1.559 -1.385 Lions 14 10 14 14 16 16 14 14 15 13 15 1.564 0.554 Eagles 4 6 6 5 4 5 6 9 8 7 4 1.585 0.294 49ers 7 5 8 8 8 11 9 5 6 8 8 1.671 -0.375 Browns 23 20 24 24 19 21 20 24 21 23 22 1.730 0.125 Patriots 11 15 12 10 12 12 11 7 13 10 11 1.911 -0.610 Saints 20 22 21 22 20 17 23 17 22 22 21 1.920 -1.400 Cowboys 6 7 7 7 7 9 12 10 7 11 6 1.975 0.593 Bills 18 18 19 18 15 14 22 19 17 19 19 2.045 0.604 Giants 13 14 11 17 14 19 13 16 14 15 13 2.105 -1.173 Bears 22 24 22 19 22 23 19 20 20 16 20 2.144 0.167 Colts 8 4 9 4 5 8 7 3 10 6 7 2.148 -0.605 Chiefs 19 16 15 21 17 20 16 22 19 17 16 2.216 -0.098 Dolphins 24 17 23 20 23 24 17 23 24 24 23 2.594 0.209 Cardinals 10 12 5 11 10 4 8 12 5 5 10 2.932 2.034 Steelers 16 23 18 16 21 15 15 13 12 20 17 3.204 0.304

Observations:

Pretty good consensus about the Ravens being ~11th-ranked team.

Chargers: solidly in the number 3 spot.

Indianapolis is one of those teams that looks good, but nobody knows just how good.

Steelers all over the map. Not at all surprising given their wins and losses this year.

Objective Average

Objective FO TE TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 Average Change in Value Seahawks 2 2 2 1 7 4 2 3 1 1 1 2.364 0.636 Broncos 1 3 1 2 6 3 1 5 2 2 2 2.546 3.181 Chargers 5 4 4 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 4 3.091 2.636 Bengals 6 1 7 4 4 8 10 4 6 6 6 5.636 -3.363 49ers 12 12 3 5 2 10 14 7 5 7 3 7.273 1.545 Packers 3 6 5 6 12 5 7 6 13 8 12 7.546 4.363 Ravens 4 10 9 11 9 2 9 9 12 5 11 8.273 -2.273 Colts 15 13 8 9 17 7 5 2 10 9 8 9.364 2.363 Cowboys 16 9 14 15 11 6 16 11 7 11 9 11.364 0.545 Cardinals 19 25 11 8 1 23 4 24 4 4 7 11.818 -5.909 Patriots 8 19 6 7 22 11 15 16 9 14 5 12.000 7.000 Lions 13 7 13 12 8 12 12 8 17 13 18 12.091 -3.545 Giants 9 16 10 16 15 9 11 12 14 10 17 12.636 -0.727 Chiefs 18 17 17 14 14 15 6 15 11 17 16 14.546 1.363 Bills 17 20 22 19 10 19 8 10 15 15 20 15.909 2.364 Eagles 10 29 15 13 13 28 18 19 8 12 10 15.909 -0.454 Steelers 11 18 20 23 16 16 24 14 18 20 13 17.546 1.727 Dolphins 22 5 21 22 19 17 17 13 21 19 22 18.000 2.636 Saints 21 11 12 10 25 20 25 22 22 22 15 18.636 -0.090 Texans 25 22 16 21 18 13 13 17 19 16 25 18.636 -1.636 Panthers 23 21 18 20 5 27 27 23 16 18 14 19.273 1.000 Falcons 7 24 19 18 20 18 19 20 25 21 24 19.546 -3.455 Bears 14 23 23 17 23 14 20 25 20 23 19 20.091 -3.091 Browns 20 14 24 24 21 22 21 18 23 24 29 21.818 -0.818 Redskins 24 8 26 27 24 21 22 21 29 27 30 23.546 0.545 Vikings 29 27 25 26 26 25 26 26 24 25 21 25.455 -3.182 Titans 27 15 28 29 27 26 23 27 27 28 26 25.727 -0.818 Rams 26 28 27 25 30 24 30 28 26 26 23 26.636 0.728 Jets 28 26 30 30 28 31 28 29 30 29 27 28.727 -2.909 Buccaneers 31 32 29 28 31 29 31 30 28 30 28 29.727 0.000 Raiders 30 30 31 31 32 30 29 31 31 31 31 30.636 -0.090 Jaguars 32 31 32 32 29 32 32 32 32 32 32 31.636 -0.272

Observations:

Just like the subjective list, the objective list starts out Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, Bengals.

Team Efficiency has Washington at 8th? Huh.

Speaking of outliers, Football Outsiders has the Falcons at 7th.

Where the Raiders were at the bottom of the Subjective list, the Jaguars are at the bottom of the Objective list.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective FO TE TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 STD DEV Change in Value Raiders 30 30 31 31 32 30 29 31 31 31 31 0.771 -0.386 Jaguars 32 31 32 32 29 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.881 -0.551 Chargers 5 4 4 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 4 1.164 -2.086 Buccaneers 31 32 29 28 31 29 31 30 28 30 28 1.355 0.000 Jets 28 26 30 30 28 31 28 29 30 29 27 1.420 -3.476 Broncos 1 3 1 2 6 3 1 5 2 2 2 1.559 -2.233 Seahawks 2 2 2 1 7 4 2 3 1 1 1 1.720 -0.838 Vikings 29 27 25 26 26 25 26 26 24 25 21 1.876 -1.643 Rams 26 28 27 25 30 24 30 28 26 26 23 2.144 -0.042 Bengals 6 1 7 4 4 8 10 4 6 6 6 2.267 0.981 Giants 9 16 10 16 15 9 11 12 14 10 17 2.901 -0.947 Ravens 4 10 9 11 9 2 9 9 12 5 11 3.048 1.003 Packers 3 6 5 6 12 5 7 6 13 8 12 3.173 -1.206 Chiefs 18 17 17 14 14 15 6 15 11 17 16 3.285 -1.910 Lions 13 7 13 12 8 12 12 8 17 13 18 3.315 -0.262 Cowboys 16 9 14 15 11 6 16 11 7 11 9 3.338 -1.733 Bears 14 23 23 17 23 14 20 25 20 23 19 3.604 -1.956 Browns 20 14 24 24 21 22 21 18 23 24 29 3.664 -1.399 Titans 27 15 28 29 27 26 23 27 27 28 26 3.695 -0.847 Steelers 11 18 20 23 16 16 24 14 18 20 13 3.870 0.150 49ers 12 12 3 5 2 10 14 7 5 7 3 3.956 -0.533 Texans 25 22 16 21 18 13 13 17 19 16 25 4.029 -0.870 Colts 15 13 8 9 17 7 5 2 10 9 8 4.118 -1.192 Bills 17 20 22 19 10 19 8 10 15 15 20 4.522 -0.543 Falcons 7 24 19 18 20 18 19 20 25 21 24 4.619 -0.964 Dolphins 22 5 21 22 19 17 17 13 21 19 22 4.899 -0.810 Saints 21 11 12 10 25 20 25 22 22 22 15 5.330 -0.103 Patriots 8 19 6 7 22 11 15 16 9 14 5 5.343 -1.180 Redskins 24 8 26 27 24 21 22 21 29 27 30 5.711 0.498 Panthers 23 21 18 20 5 27 27 23 16 18 14 6.001 -0.876 Eagles 10 29 15 13 13 28 18 19 8 12 10 6.721 0.348 Cardinals 19 25 11 8 1 23 4 24 4 4 7 8.726 3.950

Observations:

Raiders and Jaguars are soundly at the bottom.

Chargers are soundly in the number 3 spot.

Buccaneers deviation didn't change at all this week.

5 of the 6 least consistently-ranked teams are NFC teams.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Average Change in Value Seahawks 1.273 2.364 1.818 0.432 Broncos 2.273 2.546 2.409 1.996 Chargers 2.546 3.091 2.818 2.587 Bengals 5.455 5.636 5.545 -3.450 49ers 7.546 7.273 7.409 2.125 Packers 8.273 7.546 7.909 3.671 Colts 6.455 9.364 7.909 2.913 Cowboys 8.091 11.364 9.727 1.936 Ravens 11.364 8.273 9.818 -3.568 Cardinals 8.364 11.818 10.091 -5.220 Eagles 5.818 15.909 10.864 0.363 Patriots 11.273 12.000 11.636 5.489 Lions 14.091 12.091 13.091 -4.943 Giants 14.455 12.636 13.545 1.951 Chiefs 18.000 14.546 16.273 -0.443 Panthers 14.546 19.273 16.909 2.227 Bills 18.000 15.909 16.955 3.723 Steelers 16.909 17.546 17.227 0.868 Texans 17.909 18.636 18.273 -1.773 Saints 20.636 18.636 19.636 0.262 Dolphins 22.000 18.000 20.000 0.943 Bears 20.636 20.091 20.364 -3.906 Falcons 22.546 19.546 21.046 -4.417 Browns 21.909 21.818 21.864 0.428 Vikings 24.818 25.455 25.136 -2.500 Redskins 27.364 23.546 25.455 0.507 Rams 26.909 26.636 26.773 0.950 Titans 29.636 25.727 27.682 -0.352 Jets 28.455 28.727 28.591 -2.932 Buccaneers 27.455 29.727 28.591 0.356 Raiders 31.727 30.636 31.182 -0.034 Jaguars 31.273 31.636 31.455 -0.190

Observations:

Seahawks, Broncos, and Chargers all improved their rankings this week.

Raiders and Jaguars actually fell overall.

Interesting clusters separating 13 from 16, and 21 from 25; kind of sets up tiers.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg STD DEV Change in Value Jaguars 31.273 31.636 0.722 -0.350 Raiders 31.727 30.636 0.833 -0.216 Chargers 2.546 3.091 1.113 -1.332 Broncos 2.273 2.546 1.154 -1.833 Seahawks 1.273 2.364 1.370 -0.672 Jets 28.455 28.727 1.435 -2.160 Vikings 24.818 25.455 1.632 -1.266 Rams 26.909 26.636 1.704 -0.071 Buccaneers 27.455 29.727 1.723 0.222 Bengals 5.455 5.636 1.900 0.882 Packers 8.273 7.546 2.503 -0.657 Giants 14.455 12.636 2.692 -2.361 Ravens 11.364 8.273 2.724 1.130 Lions 14.091 12.091 2.778 0.169 Browns 21.909 21.818 2.865 -1.043 Bears 20.636 20.091 2.978 -1.159 Texans 17.909 18.636 3.033 -1.249 49ers 7.546 7.273 3.040 -0.472 Cowboys 8.091 11.364 3.194 -0.461 Titans 29.636 25.727 3.281 -0.717 Chiefs 18.000 14.546 3.292 -0.671 Steelers 16.909 17.546 3.567 0.047 Colts 6.455 9.364 3.592 -0.681 Bills 18.000 15.909 3.662 -0.711 Falcons 22.546 19.546 3.760 -0.669 Patriots 11.273 12.000 4.029 -1.184 Saints 20.636 18.636 4.129 -0.529 Dolphins 22.000 18.000 4.400 0.081 Redskins 27.364 23.546 4.530 0.418 Panthers 14.546 19.273 4.981 -0.351 Cardinals 8.364 11.818 6.735 3.213 Eagles 5.818 15.909 7.021 0.846

Observations:

So not only do the Chargers take the third spot, but they do so consistently. There is consensus across the board that they're a great team this year.

On the other hand, a lot of questions about the Cardinals and Eagles.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Diff. in Avg Change in Value Eagles 5.818 15.909 10.091 1.636 Panthers 14.546 19.273 4.727 2.454 Cardinals 8.364 11.818 3.455 1.379 Cowboys 8.091 11.364 3.273 2.781 Colts 6.455 9.364 2.909 1.098 Buccaneers 27.455 29.727 2.273 0.712 Seahawks 1.273 2.364 1.091 -0.409 Texans 17.909 18.636 0.727 -0.273 Patriots 11.273 12.000 0.727 -3.023 Vikings 24.818 25.455 0.636 1.363 Steelers 16.909 17.546 0.636 -1.720 Chargers 2.546 3.091 0.545 -0.099 Jaguars 31.273 31.636 0.364 0.167 Jets 28.455 28.727 0.273 -0.045 Broncos 2.273 2.546 0.273 -2.371 Bengals 5.455 5.636 0.182 -0.174 Browns 21.909 21.818 -0.091 2.492 49ers 7.546 7.273 -0.273 1.159 Rams 26.909 26.636 -0.273 0.447 Bears 20.636 20.091 -0.546 -1.629 Packers 8.273 7.546 -0.727 -1.386 Raiders 31.727 30.636 -1.091 0.114 Giants 14.455 12.636 -1.818 5.356 Saints 20.636 18.636 -2.000 0.705 Lions 14.091 12.091 -2.000 -2.796 Bills 18.000 15.909 -2.091 2.720 Falcons 22.546 19.546 -3.000 -1.924 Ravens 11.364 8.273 -3.091 -2.591 Chiefs 18.000 14.546 -3.455 -3.614 Redskins 27.364 23.546 -3.818 -0.076 Titans 29.636 25.727 -3.909 0.932 Dolphins 22.000 18.000 -4.000 -3.386

Observations:

Oh, well that explains it. The Eagles are once again the team at the top of this list. Maybe a little over-rated?

In fact, 6 of the 7 most over-rated teams are NFC teams. 5 of the 7 most under-rated teams are AFC teams.

Chargers are within a half spot of their respective averages, that's pretty good.

Chiefs slightly under-ranked? That's not good to hear as a division rival.

Sources