Well would you look at that: the Chargers have strung together a nice little two-game winning streak. What's more, they're actually blowing-out the teams they're supposed to; and the rankings this week reflect the glimmer of hope in San Diego.

However, enough about these underperformers. The big story this week is TEBOW. You think it's bad living in San Diego having to hear about him? Try actually living in Denver. As you'll see shortly, everybody and their mother has hitched their wagon to Tebow; however, the stats don't quite back it up. Maybe all the objective sites need to add in a metric for "Tebow Factor" or something along those lines, because frankly, the Broncos still aren't that great when just looking at their performances objectively.

Ahh crap, even I can't get away from talking about him. Okay, back to the stats. This week, the Chargers take on the Baltimore Ravens. Going by the rankings alone, this will be their biggest test since playing the Packers, and a bigger test than when they played New England. The Chargers are climbing the rankings again, after bottoming out in the upper-20s. After it looked like the AFC West was going to be a two-team race between the Raiders and Broncos, well now the Chargers and Raiders appear to be going in opposite directions. There is still hope, but it's going to be ridiculously frustrating from many different angles if the Chargers end up winning out, but miss the playoffs.

Notable Quotes

ESPN

Back to life, but it's likely too late for them to salvage the season and prevent overhaul moves.

Fox Sports

Believe it or not, the Chargers still have a realistic shot at making the playoffs. With the Broncos playing their toughest opponent since Tim Tebow took over as starting QB, and the Raiders' continuous downward spiral, don't count out the Chargers. It will be a long shot, but it's not uncommon for the Chargers to find a way to pull this type of scenario off.

Sports Illustrated

Sorry Philip Rivers and your fellow Norv-men. You woke up at least one week too late this time. Looks like you've all been Tebowed. But join the crowd. And hey, it's almost a status symbol at this point.

On to the numbers!

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking AFC North 12.0938 NFC North 14.2813 AFC East 15.0313 NFC South 16.1875 NFC East 17.9688 AFC West 18.1250 AFC South 19.0469 NFC West 19.2656

Wow, even with the Colts and Jaguars in the same division, the AFC South couldn't quite match the NFC West's futility.

Surprises

Team Week 1 Average Week 15 Average Difference DEN 29.000 9.400 19.600 SF 25.667 6.200 19.467 CIN 30.778 15.600 15.178 TEN 23.556 13.800 9.756 CAR 30.889 23.900 6.989

With the 49ers slipping a bit lately, Denver takes over the top spot as the biggest surprise thus far this season.

Disappointments

Team Week 1 Average Week 15 Average Difference IND 11.778 32.000 -20.222 TB 12.333 27.900 -15.567 PHI 6.222 20.800 -14.578 STL 17.667 31.000 -13.333 SDG 7.000 17.800 -10.800

Woot! The Chargers have almost fallen off the "disappointments" list.

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Ravens 2 3 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 2.600 0.490 Saints 3 4 5 2 2 5 3 2 2 2 3.000 1.183 Steelers 4 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4.000 0.447 Patriots 5 2 6 5 5 4 5 5 5 6 4.800 1.077 49ers 6 7 7 6 6 7 6 6 6 5 6.200 0.600 Texans 7 6 3 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 6.400 1.200 Falcons 8 10 8 8 8 9 9 8 10 8 8.600 0.800 Jets 10 9 10 9 10 10 8 9 9 10 9.400 0.663 Broncos 9 8 9 11 9 8 10 11 8 11 9.400 1.200 Giants 12 12 12 10 12 11 11 10 12 9 11.100 1.044 Lions 11 11 11 14 11 12 13 14 11 12 12.000 1.183 Cowboys 14 15 13 12 13 13 12 12 14 14 13.200 0.980 Titans 13 13 15 13 14 15 14 13 13 15 13.800 0.872 Bengals 15 14 16 17 16 16 15 17 17 13 15.600 1.281 Raiders 16 19 14 15 19 14 18 15 16 16 16.200 1.778 Bears 17 18 17 19 20 18 16 19 15 17 17.600 1.428 Chargers 18 20 21 16 15 17 19 16 18 18 17.800 1.778 Cardinals 19 16 20 21 17 20 17 21 19 19 18.900 1.640 Seahawks 20 17 18 22 18 19 20 22 20 20 19.600 1.562 Eagles 21 21 19 18 21 25 21 18 23 21 20.800 2.040 Dolphins 23 24 24 20 22 21 23 20 22 24 22.300 1.487 Bills 22 25 25 25 23 24 22 25 21 23 23.500 1.432 Panthers 24 23 26 23 24 23 25 23 26 22 23.900 1.300 Chiefs 25 30 23 29 26 22 24 29 24 25 25.700 2.610 Jaguars 26 26 22 24 27 26 27 24 29 26 25.700 1.847 Redskins 27 22 29 28 25 28 26 28 27 27 26.700 1.900 Browns 29 27 28 26 28 27 28 26 28 28 27.500 0.922 Buccaneers 28 29 27 27 29 29 29 27 25 29 27.900 1.300 Vikings 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.800 0.600 Rams 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.000 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

Broncos in the top 10? Blech.

Chargers are up 3 spots this week. Raiders drop 3 spots.

The bottom three teams was almost a unanimous placement.

The Ravens? *gulp*

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Rams 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.000 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000 Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Steelers 4 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4.000 0.447 Ravens 2 3 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 2.600 0.490 49ers 6 7 7 6 6 7 6 6 6 5 6.200 0.600 Vikings 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.800 0.600 Jets 10 9 10 9 10 10 8 9 9 10 9.400 0.663 Falcons 8 10 8 8 8 9 9 8 10 8 8.600 0.800 Titans 13 13 15 13 14 15 14 13 13 15 13.800 0.872 Browns 29 27 28 26 28 27 28 26 28 28 27.500 0.922 Cowboys 14 15 13 12 13 13 12 12 14 14 13.200 0.980 Giants 12 12 12 10 12 11 11 10 12 9 11.100 1.044 Patriots 5 2 6 5 5 4 5 5 5 6 4.800 1.077 Saints 3 4 5 2 2 5 3 2 2 2 3.000 1.183 Lions 11 11 11 14 11 12 13 14 11 12 12.000 1.183 Broncos 9 8 9 11 9 8 10 11 8 11 9.400 1.200 Texans 7 6 3 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 6.400 1.200 Bengals 15 14 16 17 16 16 15 17 17 13 15.600 1.281 Panthers 24 23 26 23 24 23 25 23 26 22 23.900 1.300 Buccaneers 28 29 27 27 29 29 29 27 25 29 27.900 1.300 Bears 17 18 17 19 20 18 16 19 15 17 17.600 1.428 Bills 22 25 25 25 23 24 22 25 21 23 23.500 1.432 Dolphins 23 24 24 20 22 21 23 20 22 24 22.300 1.487 Seahawks 20 17 18 22 18 19 20 22 20 20 19.600 1.562 Cardinals 19 16 20 21 17 20 17 21 19 19 18.900 1.640 Raiders 16 19 14 15 19 14 18 15 16 16 16.200 1.778 Chargers 18 20 21 16 15 17 19 16 18 18 17.800 1.778 Jaguars 26 26 22 24 27 26 27 24 29 26 25.700 1.847 Redskins 27 22 29 28 25 28 26 28 27 27 26.700 1.900 Eagles 21 21 19 18 21 25 21 18 23 21 20.800 2.040 Chiefs 25 30 23 29 26 22 24 29 24 25 25.700 2.610

Observations:

Wow, I can't believe how much the Chiefs are all over the map.

Chargers and Raiders are equally inconsistently-ranked.

Objective Average

Objective Packers 3 3 1 1 2 3 2.167 0.898 Texans 2 1 3 2 4 2 2.333 0.943 Ravens 4 7 4 3 1 1 3.333 2.055 Steelers 1 2 2 5 6 11 4.500 3.403 Saints 8 5 5 4 3 9 5.667 2.134 Patriots 5 4 6 6 13 5 6.500 2.986 49ers 9 17 7 7 5 4 8.167 4.259 Falcons 6 11 9 10 9 6 8.500 1.893 Jets 7 12 10 9 14 7 9.833 2.544 Lions 12 10 14 8 7 8 9.833 2.478 Giants 13 6 13 17 12 16 12.833 3.532 Bears 10 15 16 11 17 10 13.167 2.911 Bengals 15 13 12 12 10 20 13.667 3.197 Titans 11 18 15 13 16 13 14.333 2.285 Cowboys 14 8 21 15 19 12 14.833 4.298 Chargers 16 14 19 16 20 15 16.667 2.134 Broncos 20 24 8 14 8 27 16.833 7.403 Eagles 17 9 20 19 27 18 18.333 5.281 Raiders 22 16 17 18 15 22 18.333 2.749 Seahawks 19 25 18 21 11 17 18.500 4.233 Dolphins 18 20 22 20 21 14 19.167 2.609 Cardinals 27 22 11 23 25 25 22.167 5.241 Panthers 21 23 26 25 26 19 23.333 2.625 Browns 25 27 25 29 18 24 24.667 3.399 Jaguars 23 26 24 24 28 23 24.667 1.795 Bills 29 19 29 22 22 28 24.833 3.976 Redskins 24 21 27 28 30 26 26.000 2.887 Chiefs 26 31 23 26 23 29 26.333 2.925 Vikings 28 28 28 30 24 21 26.500 3.041 Buccaneers 30 30 31 27 29 30 29.500 1.258 Rams 31 29 30 31 31 31 30.500 0.764 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

Wow, Texans are dangerously close to taking the top spot away from the undefeated Packers.

Ravens are good, but vulnerable.

Hmph, Broncos are ranked below the Chargers now. Guess there's still no objective way to account for the "Tebow Factor."

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000 Rams 31 29 30 31 31 31 30.500 0.764 Packers 3 3 1 1 2 3 2.167 0.898 Texans 2 1 3 2 4 2 2.333 0.943 Buccaneers 30 30 31 27 29 30 29.500 1.258 Jaguars 23 26 24 24 28 23 24.667 1.795 Falcons 6 11 9 10 9 6 8.500 1.893 Ravens 4 7 4 3 1 1 3.333 2.055 Saints 8 5 5 4 3 9 5.667 2.134 Chargers 16 14 19 16 20 15 16.667 2.134 Titans 11 18 15 13 16 13 14.333 2.285 Lions 12 10 14 8 7 8 9.833 2.478 Jets 7 12 10 9 14 7 9.833 2.544 Dolphins 18 20 22 20 21 14 19.167 2.609 Panthers 21 23 26 25 26 19 23.333 2.625 Raiders 22 16 17 18 15 22 18.333 2.749 Redskins 24 21 27 28 30 26 26.000 2.887 Bears 10 15 16 11 17 10 13.167 2.911 Chiefs 26 31 23 26 23 29 26.333 2.925 Patriots 5 4 6 6 13 5 6.500 2.986 Vikings 28 28 28 30 24 21 26.500 3.041 Bengals 15 13 12 12 10 20 13.667 3.197 Browns 25 27 25 29 18 24 24.667 3.399 Steelers 1 2 2 5 6 11 4.500 3.403 Giants 13 6 13 17 12 16 12.833 3.532 Bills 29 19 29 22 22 28 24.833 3.976 Seahawks 19 25 18 21 11 17 18.500 4.233 49ers 9 17 7 7 5 4 8.167 4.259 Cowboys 14 8 21 15 19 12 14.833 4.298 Cardinals 27 22 11 23 25 25 22.167 5.241 Eagles 17 9 20 19 27 18 18.333 5.281 Broncos 20 24 8 14 8 27 16.833 7.403

Observations:

Wow, way to overachjeve, Denver.

Objective rankings sites tend to not agree with each other at all. Well, except when it comes to the Colts: they stink.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 0.788 1.167 Ravens 2.600 3.333 2.967 1.364 0.733 Steelers 4.000 4.500 4.250 2.128 0.500 Saints 3.000 5.667 4.333 2.062 2.667 Texans 6.400 2.333 4.367 2.260 -4.067 Patriots 4.800 6.500 5.650 2.179 1.700 49ers 6.200 8.167 7.183 2.817 1.967 Falcons 8.600 8.500 8.550 1.321 -0.100 Jets 9.400 9.833 9.617 1.657 0.433 Lions 12.000 9.833 10.917 2.068 -2.167 Giants 11.100 12.833 11.967 2.462 1.733 Broncos 9.400 16.833 13.117 5.865 7.433 Cowboys 13.200 14.833 14.017 2.855 1.633 Titans 13.800 14.333 14.067 1.581 0.533 Bengals 15.600 13.667 14.633 2.395 -1.933 Bears 17.600 13.167 15.383 3.010 -4.433 Chargers 17.800 16.667 17.233 1.996 -1.133 Raiders 16.200 18.333 17.267 2.424 2.133 Seahawks 19.600 18.500 19.050 2.920 -1.100 Eagles 20.800 18.333 19.567 3.806 -2.467 Cardinals 18.900 22.167 20.533 3.806 3.267 Dolphins 22.300 19.167 20.733 2.497 -3.133 Panthers 23.900 23.333 23.617 1.927 -0.567 Bills 23.500 24.833 24.167 2.761 1.333 Jaguars 25.700 24.667 25.183 1.895 -1.033 Chiefs 25.700 26.333 26.017 2.749 0.633 Browns 27.500 24.667 26.083 2.597 -2.833 Redskins 26.700 26.000 26.350 2.344 -0.700 Vikings 29.800 26.500 28.150 2.499 -3.300 Buccaneers 27.900 29.500 28.700 1.500 1.600 Rams 31.000 30.500 30.750 0.527 -0.500 Colts 32.000 32.000 32.000 0.000 0.000

Observations:

Looks about right ...

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Colts 32.000 32.000 32.000 0.000 0.000 Rams 31.000 30.500 30.750 0.527 -0.500 Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 0.788 1.167 Falcons 8.600 8.500 8.550 1.321 -0.100 Ravens 2.600 3.333 2.967 1.364 0.733 Buccaneers 27.900 29.500 28.700 1.500 1.600 Titans 13.800 14.333 14.067 1.581 0.533 Jets 9.400 9.833 9.617 1.657 0.433 Jaguars 25.700 24.667 25.183 1.895 -1.033 Panthers 23.900 23.333 23.617 1.927 -0.567 Chargers 17.800 16.667 17.233 1.996 -1.133 Saints 3.000 5.667 4.333 2.062 2.667 Lions 12.000 9.833 10.917 2.068 -2.167 Steelers 4.000 4.500 4.250 2.128 0.500 Patriots 4.800 6.500 5.650 2.179 1.700 Texans 6.400 2.333 4.367 2.260 -4.067 Redskins 26.700 26.000 26.350 2.344 -0.700 Bengals 15.600 13.667 14.633 2.395 -1.933 Raiders 16.200 18.333 17.267 2.424 2.133 Giants 11.100 12.833 11.967 2.462 1.733 Dolphins 22.300 19.167 20.733 2.497 -3.133 Vikings 29.800 26.500 28.150 2.499 -3.300 Browns 27.500 24.667 26.083 2.597 -2.833 Chiefs 25.700 26.333 26.017 2.749 0.633 Bills 23.500 24.833 24.167 2.761 1.333 49ers 6.200 8.167 7.183 2.817 1.967 Cowboys 13.200 14.833 14.017 2.855 1.633 Seahawks 19.600 18.500 19.050 2.920 -1.100 Bears 17.600 13.167 15.383 3.010 -4.433 Cardinals 18.900 22.167 20.533 3.806 3.267 Eagles 20.800 18.333 19.567 3.806 -2.467 Broncos 9.400 16.833 13.117 5.865 7.433

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Broncos 9.400 16.833 13.117 5.865 7.433 Cardinals 18.900 22.167 20.533 3.806 3.267 Saints 3.000 5.667 4.333 2.062 2.667 Raiders 16.200 18.333 17.267 2.424 2.133 49ers 6.200 8.167 7.183 2.817 1.967 Giants 11.100 12.833 11.967 2.462 1.733 Patriots 4.800 6.500 5.650 2.179 1.700 Cowboys 13.200 14.833 14.017 2.855 1.633 Buccaneers 27.900 29.500 28.700 1.500 1.600 Bills 23.500 24.833 24.167 2.761 1.333 Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 0.788 1.167 Ravens 2.600 3.333 2.967 1.364 0.733 Chiefs 25.700 26.333 26.017 2.749 0.633 Titans 13.800 14.333 14.067 1.581 0.533 Steelers 4.000 4.500 4.250 2.128 0.500 Jets 9.400 9.833 9.617 1.657 0.433 Colts 32.000 32.000 32.000 0.000 0.000 Falcons 8.600 8.500 8.550 1.321 -0.100 Rams 31.000 30.500 30.750 0.527 -0.500 Panthers 23.900 23.333 23.617 1.927 -0.567 Redskins 26.700 26.000 26.350 2.344 -0.700 Jaguars 25.700 24.667 25.183 1.895 -1.033 Seahawks 19.600 18.500 19.050 2.920 -1.100 Chargers 17.800 16.667 17.233 1.996 -1.133 Bengals 15.600 13.667 14.633 2.395 -1.933 Lions 12.000 9.833 10.917 2.068 -2.167 Eagles 20.800 18.333 19.567 3.806 -2.467 Browns 27.500 24.667 26.083 2.597 -2.833 Dolphins 22.300 19.167 20.733 2.497 -3.133 Vikings 29.800 26.500 28.150 2.499 -3.300 Texans 6.400 2.333 4.367 2.260 -4.067 Bears 17.600 13.167 15.383 3.010 -4.433

Observations:

I think we all suspected it, but it's true, the Denver Broncos are the most overrated NFL Team (this week). It's not even close either. They're ranked over 7 spots too high, and yet their next closest overrated team — the Arizona Cardinals — is overrated but just over 3 spots. Is this religion vs science all over again?

Looks like the Raiders tumble isn't over yet.

Chargers are underranked again this week.

What will it take for people to buy into the Texans?

Wow, looks like everyone's giving up on the Bears.

Sources