Despite a blowout win against a top-10 defense, many pundits were unimpressed with San Diego's performance against the New York Giants.

I'm going to spoil things a little right off the bat. The Chargers effectively didn't move at all this week in the Subjective rankings. They moved up 2.500 spots in the Objective rankings. Why the disparity? Frankly, who cares about the Chargers this year?

As soon as pundits feel they have San Diego "figured out," they go and lose to an opponent they were supposed to beat, or beat an opponent they had no chance in beating. We've covered before that this perception of the Chargers being "inconsistent" is a fallacy. But I think the pundits have been burned enough times this season that they aren't willing to give the Chargers the benefit of the doubt.

Notable Quotes

Ryan Mathews quietly is having perhaps his best season: 885 yards on 207 carries (4.3 average). - USA Today

The AFC West's 'third' team has stayed in the hunt and gets one last shot at each division mate to end the year, starting with Denver on Thursday Night in Week 15. One game out of the wild card, the Chargers will need to show well to press for the final playoff spot. - Pro Football Focus

If the Chargers played against the rest of the league like they played against the Giants, the playoff picture would be a lot different. Fan involvement, a good showing by the defense, and a fantastic offensive performance shows a lot of promise for the future of this team. If the Chargers manage to sneak into the playoffs, the only hope of the Charger faithful is that the team that played this week shows up. - Reddit

Division Averages

Division Week 15 Average Week 14 Average Difference NFC West 9.1750 8.8571 -0.3179 AFC West 13.4750 13.7262 0.2512 NFC South 14.5250 14.7500 0.225 AFC North 17.1750 17.6548 0.4798 AFC East 17.3625 17.9286 0.5661 NFC North 18.1250 18.6548 0.5298 NFC East 19.4875 17.9643 -1.5232 AFC South 22.6750 22.4643 -0.2107

Stock Rising

Team Week 14 Average Week 15 Average Difference CHI 16.668 13.712 2.956 NYJ 26.645 23.833 2.812 TB 23.636 21.354 2.282 JAX 29.459 27.283 2.176 MIA 15.359 13.758 1.601

Stock Falling

Team Week 14 Average Week 15 Average Difference DAL 12.723 16.222 -3.499 STL 17.618 20.162 -2.544 NYG 20.132 22.424 -2.292 CAR 3.086 5.212 -2.126 BUF 24.636 26.429 -1.793

Subjective Average

Subjective Seahawks 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1.455 -0.455 Broncos 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1.636 0.910 Saints 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3.273 1.545 Patriots 4 4 2 5 5 3 4 5 4 4 4 4.000 -0.454 49ers 5 6 6 4 3 7 7 4 6 5 5 5.273 1.091 Panthers 6 5 8 7 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 6.091 -2.818 Chiefs 7 8 7 6 9 8 5 8 7 7 7 7.182 0.091 Bengals 8 7 5 8 8 5 8 7 8 8 8 7.273 0.182 Eagles 9 9 9 9 7 9 9 11 9 9 9 9.000 1.182 Cardinals 10 10 10 10 14 10 10 9 10 11 10 10.364 1.727 Colts 11 13 11 12 12 14 12 12 11 10 14 12.000 -1.454 Lions 12 11 12 11 16 18 13 10 12 14 12 12.818 -2.091 Bears 13 14 14 15 11 12 14 15 13 12 11 13.091 3.545 Ravens 14 12 13 13 13 11 15 14 14 13 13 13.182 0.636 Dolphins 16 15 16 14 10 16 11 13 15 15 15 14.182 1.636 Cowboys 15 16 17 16 17 13 16 17 17 16 16 16.000 -4.454 Chargers 17 17 15 17 15 17 18 16 16 18 17 16.636 0.455 Packers 18 18 19 18 18 15 17 23 18 17 18 18.091 2.455 Steelers 19 19 22 20 22 23 21 18 19 20 19 20.182 -1.091 Jets 21 21 20 22 19 19 19 25 22 19 24 21.000 3.091 Rams 20 23 23 19 27 20 23 20 20 21 21 21.546 -1.910 Titans 22 20 18 21 28 22 20 21 23 22 22 21.727 -1.091 Giants 23 22 21 24 25 24 22 19 21 23 20 22.182 -2.818 Buccaneers 24 26 24 23 21 25 24 24 24 24 23 23.818 2.455 Browns 25 28 27 26 23 27 26 22 25 26 25 25.455 1.181 Jaguars 29 25 25 28 20 21 25 29 26 25 27 25.455 3.363 Vikings 27 24 26 30 24 28 29 26 29 27 28 27.091 -1.455 Bills 26 27 30 25 30 26 28 30 28 28 26 27.636 -2.363 Raiders 28 30 28 27 29 29 27 27 27 29 29 28.182 -2.000 Falcons 30 29 29 29 26 30 30 28 30 30 30 29.182 -0.364 Redskins 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.091 -0.818 Texans 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 31.909 0.091

Observations:

Sports Illustrated making the case for the Redskins to be the worst team in the league. With RGIII being shut down for the season, are they wrong?

Chargers stayed put in most lists, and actually were dropped by ESPN.

Conversely, the Giants were dropped by nearly 3 spots. So, San Diego didn't win so much as the Giants gave up.

Seattle no longer the unanimous top team. How can a team be atop the rankings if they lost. The top spot is only for winners, Seattle. (Author's note: I think Seattle should still be at the top of the rankings despite the loss.)

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Texans 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.288 0.288 Redskins 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 0.288 -0.574 Saints 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 0.445 -0.388 Broncos 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 0.481 -0.301 Seahawks 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 0.656 0.656 Panthers 6 5 8 7 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 0.793 -0.259 Patriots 4 4 2 5 5 3 4 5 4 4 4 0.853 0.071 Eagles 9 9 9 9 7 9 9 11 9 9 9 0.853 -0.613 Chargers 17 17 15 17 15 17 18 16 16 18 17 0.979 -0.332 Raiders 28 30 28 27 29 29 27 27 27 29 29 1.029 -0.869 Ravens 14 12 13 13 13 11 15 14 14 13 13 1.029 -0.084 Chiefs 7 8 7 6 9 8 5 8 7 7 7 1.029 -0.023 Cowboys 15 16 17 16 17 13 16 17 17 16 16 1.128 -0.309 Bengals 8 7 5 8 8 5 8 7 8 8 8 1.136 0.354 Buccaneers 24 26 24 23 21 25 24 24 24 24 23 1.192 -0.094 Falcons 30 29 29 29 26 30 30 28 30 30 30 1.192 -0.335 Colts 11 13 11 12 12 14 12 12 11 10 14 1.206 -0.027 49ers 5 6 6 4 3 7 7 4 6 5 5 1.213 0.332 Cardinals 10 10 10 10 14 10 10 9 10 11 10 1.226 -0.217 Bears 13 14 14 15 11 12 14 15 13 12 11 1.379 -0.232 Steelers 19 19 22 20 22 23 21 18 19 20 19 1.527 0.148 Browns 25 28 27 26 23 27 26 22 25 26 25 1.671 -0.515 Bills 26 27 30 25 30 26 28 30 28 28 26 1.720 -0.238 Giants 23 22 21 24 25 24 22 19 21 23 20 1.749 -0.218 Packers 18 18 19 18 18 15 17 23 18 17 18 1.832 -2.176 Vikings 27 24 26 30 24 28 29 26 29 27 28 1.881 -0.131 Dolphins 16 15 16 14 10 16 11 13 15 15 15 1.946 0.610 Jets 21 21 20 22 19 19 19 25 22 19 24 2.000 -0.391 Rams 20 23 23 19 27 20 23 20 20 21 21 2.189 0.469 Lions 12 11 12 11 16 18 13 10 12 14 12 2.249 0.648 Titans 22 20 18 21 28 22 20 21 23 22 22 2.378 1.011 Jaguars 29 25 25 28 20 21 25 29 26 25 27 2.775 0.526

Observations:

Redskins and Texans near unanimous picks for 31 and 32, respectively. And the only non-unanimous pick has them swapped in position.

Pretty good consensus about the top 5 teams.

Wow, Chargers pretty consistent in their ranking; even if that ranking is wrong.

Packers actually would be pretty consistent in their ranking had SBNation not messed everything up

Jacksonville continues to climb the rankings, just not at a constant pace

Objective Average

Objective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1.222 -0.122 Broncos 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 6 2 3.000 0.400 Saints 4 2 4 4 5 6 5 4 5 4.333 0.467 Panthers 3 11 2 3 9 2 3 2 4 4.333 -1.433 49ers 8 6 5 5 12 4 4 7 3 6.000 -0.600 Bengals 7 4 8 9 1 5 8 5 9 6.222 1.078 Patriots 6 9 7 8 2 10 9 9 7 7.444 -0.544 Chiefs 5 19 11 6 6 7 6 3 6 7.667 1.133 Cardinals 10 7 6 7 8 11 7 11 8 8.333 0.967 Eagles 11 5 9 11 7 8 14 8 11 9.333 0.767 Colts 17 18 12 10 11 16 10 13 10 13.000 -1.100 Dolphins 19 16 10 12 10 14 12 14 13 13.333 1.567 Lions 12 8 18 15 15 9 16 12 16 13.444 -1.244 Bears 9 12 19 16 16 12 18 10 17 14.333 2.367 Chargers 14 17 16 14 17 13 13 17 14 15.000 2.500 Cowboys 15 24 15 13 18 18 15 18 12 16.444 -2.544 Rams 18 30 14 17 25 17 11 22 15 18.778 -3.178 Buccaneers 13 28 13 20 13 21 19 21 22 18.889 2.111 Titans 23 21 23 19 14 19 17 16 20 19.111 -1.711 Ravens 21 26 17 18 22 15 20 15 18 19.111 -0.111 Packers 20 10 25 21 21 20 21 19 21 19.778 0.422 Steelers 16 15 22 23 19 23 23 20 23 20.444 0.256 Giants 27 14 20 22 20 27 25 30 19 22.667 -1.767 Bills 22 20 28 27 31 22 24 24 29 25.222 -1.222 Falcons 24 23 24 25 24 31 22 29 26 25.333 0.367 Browns 28 13 29 30 30 26 26 23 30 26.111 1.489 Jets 26 27 26 24 23 28 30 31 25 26.667 2.533 Vikings 25 25 27 26 26 30 27 27 27 26.667 0.033 Raiders 31 31 30 29 28 25 29 26 28 28.556 -1.356 Texans 29 22 32 32 32 29 28 25 32 29.000 -0.900 Jaguars 32 32 21 28 29 32 32 32 24 29.111 0.989 Redskins 30 29 31 31 27 24 31 28 31 29.111 -1.611

Observations:

By nature of the models, Seattle lost so they'll be dropped a little in BeatGraphs' rankings. Aside from that, they're still 1st in all the other lists.

Clear deliniation of the top 10 teams from everyone else.

Chargers currently #7 in the AFC.

9 of the bottom 14 teams are AFC teams. Just goes to show how bad the conference is overall when the AFC outnumbers the NFC in the bottom 14 by a near 2-to-1 margin.

Team Efficiency has the Browns at 13th, Giants at 14th and the Chargers at 17th. Which team do you think is better?

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 0.629 0.329 Saints 4 2 4 4 5 6 5 4 5 1.054 -0.482 Broncos 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 6 2 1.247 -0.497 Vikings 25 25 27 26 26 30 27 27 27 1.414 -0.638 Chargers 14 17 16 14 17 13 13 17 14 1.633 -0.170 Cardinals 10 7 6 7 8 11 7 11 8 1.764 -0.083 Raiders 31 31 30 29 28 25 29 26 28 1.950 -0.408 Patriots 6 9 7 8 2 10 9 9 7 2.266 0.566 Redskins 30 29 31 31 27 24 31 28 31 2.283 -0.094 Jets 26 27 26 24 23 28 30 31 25 2.494 0.716 Bengals 7 4 8 9 1 5 8 5 9 2.529 -0.156 Eagles 11 5 9 11 7 8 14 8 11 2.539 -0.086 49ers 8 6 5 5 12 4 4 7 3 2.582 0.523 Dolphins 19 16 10 12 10 14 12 14 13 2.708 1.008 Falcons 24 23 24 25 24 31 22 29 26 2.749 -0.046 Titans 23 21 23 19 14 19 17 16 20 2.885 -0.556 Steelers 16 15 22 23 19 23 23 20 23 2.986 0.264 Colts 17 18 12 10 11 16 10 13 10 3.019 0.175 Panthers 3 11 2 3 9 2 3 2 4 3.127 1.008 Lions 12 8 18 15 15 9 16 12 16 3.201 -0.893 Ravens 21 26 17 18 22 15 20 15 18 3.348 0.062 Texans 29 22 32 32 32 29 28 25 32 3.367 -0.223 Cowboys 15 24 15 13 18 18 15 18 12 3.370 -0.812 Bears 9 12 19 16 16 12 18 10 17 3.432 -0.619 Bills 22 20 28 27 31 22 24 24 29 3.489 -0.706 Packers 20 10 25 21 21 20 21 19 21 3.794 0.139 Jaguars 32 32 21 28 29 32 32 32 24 3.871 1.062 Chiefs 5 19 11 6 6 7 6 3 6 4.472 -0.720 Giants 27 14 20 22 20 27 25 30 19 4.714 0.014 Buccaneers 13 28 13 20 13 21 19 21 22 4.795 0.212 Browns 28 13 29 30 30 26 26 23 30 5.152 -0.029 Rams 18 30 14 17 25 17 11 22 15 5.573 0.335

Observations:

If a team were "inconsistent" like the Chargers are purported to be, would they have one of the most-consistent Objective rankings?

Seahawks still most consistently-ranked team.

For as much ire as BeatGraphs gets each week, Team Efficiency is actually the list mucking things up the most.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Seahawks 1.455 1.222 1.338 -0.288 Broncos 1.636 3.000 2.318 0.655 Saints 3.273 4.333 3.803 1.006 Panthers 6.091 4.333 5.212 -2.126 49ers 5.273 6.000 5.636 0.246 Patriots 4.000 7.444 5.722 -0.499 Bengals 7.273 6.222 6.747 0.630 Chiefs 7.182 7.667 7.424 0.612 Eagles 9.000 9.333 9.167 0.974 Cardinals 10.364 8.333 9.348 1.347 Colts 12.000 13.000 12.500 -1.277 Lions 12.818 13.444 13.131 -1.667 Bears 13.091 14.333 13.712 2.956 Dolphins 14.182 13.333 13.758 1.601 Chargers 16.636 15.000 15.818 1.477 Ravens 13.182 19.111 16.146 0.263 Cowboys 16.000 16.444 16.222 -3.499 Packers 18.091 19.778 18.934 1.439 Rams 21.546 18.778 20.162 -2.544 Steelers 20.182 20.444 20.313 -0.418 Titans 21.727 19.111 20.419 -1.401 Buccaneers 23.818 18.889 21.354 2.282 Giants 22.182 22.667 22.424 -2.292 Jets 21.000 26.667 23.833 2.812 Browns 25.455 26.111 25.783 1.335 Bills 27.636 25.222 26.429 -1.793 Vikings 27.091 26.667 26.879 -0.711 Falcons 29.182 25.333 27.258 0.001 Jaguars 25.455 29.111 27.283 2.176 Raiders 28.182 28.556 28.369 -1.678 Redskins 31.091 29.111 30.101 -1.215 Texans 31.909 29.000 30.455 -0.405

Observations:

Again, the top 10 teams seem to be separated from the rest.

Chargers are slightly above average now.

Atlanta moved ever so slightly, by 0.001 spots compared to last week.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Seahawks 1.455 1.222 0.654 0.441 Saints 3.273 4.333 0.942 -0.278 Broncos 1.636 3.000 1.135 -0.262 Raiders 28.182 28.556 1.526 -0.663 Chargers 16.636 15.000 1.546 -0.032 Vikings 27.091 26.667 1.700 -0.400 Cardinals 10.364 8.333 1.802 -0.356 Eagles 9.000 9.333 1.824 -0.276 Redskins 31.091 29.111 1.833 -0.403 Bengals 7.273 6.222 1.965 0.026 49ers 5.273 6.000 1.985 0.355 Colts 12.000 13.000 2.269 0.009 Steelers 20.182 20.444 2.304 0.030 Panthers 6.091 4.333 2.347 0.688 Dolphins 14.182 13.333 2.358 0.770 Patriots 4.000 7.444 2.376 0.254 Cowboys 16.000 16.444 2.421 -0.864 Bears 13.091 14.333 2.594 -0.435 Texans 31.909 29.000 2.691 -0.461 Lions 12.818 13.444 2.737 -0.404 Falcons 29.182 25.333 2.801 0.087 Bills 27.636 25.222 2.924 -0.361 Titans 21.727 19.111 2.924 -0.114 Packers 18.091 19.778 3.005 -0.843 Chiefs 7.182 7.667 3.105 -0.637 Giants 22.182 22.667 3.426 -0.198 Jets 21.000 26.667 3.598 0.280 Browns 25.455 26.111 3.686 -0.253 Jaguars 25.455 29.111 3.780 1.169 Ravens 13.182 19.111 3.785 0.251 Buccaneers 23.818 18.889 4.140 -0.079 Rams 21.546 18.778 4.302 -0.020

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Ravens 13.182 19.111 5.929 0.747 Jets 21.000 26.667 5.667 0.558 Jaguars 25.455 29.111 3.657 2.375 Patriots 4.000 7.444 3.444 0.089 Packers 18.091 19.778 1.687 2.033 Broncos 1.636 3.000 1.364 0.509 Bears 13.091 14.333 1.242 1.178 Saints 3.273 4.333 1.061 1.079 Colts 12.000 13.000 1.000 -0.355 49ers 5.273 6.000 0.727 1.691 Browns 25.455 26.111 0.657 -0.307 Lions 12.818 13.444 0.626 -0.847 Giants 22.182 22.667 0.485 -1.051 Chiefs 7.182 7.667 0.485 -1.042 Cowboys 16.000 16.444 0.444 -1.911 Raiders 28.182 28.556 0.374 -0.644 Eagles 9.000 9.333 0.333 0.415 Steelers 20.182 20.444 0.263 -1.346 Seahawks 1.455 1.222 -0.232 -0.332 Vikings 27.091 26.667 -0.424 -1.488 Dolphins 14.182 13.333 -0.849 0.069 Bengals 7.273 6.222 -1.051 -0.896 Chargers 16.636 15.000 -1.636 -2.045 Panthers 6.091 4.333 -1.758 -1.385 Redskins 31.091 29.111 -1.980 0.793 Cardinals 10.364 8.333 -2.030 0.761 Bills 27.636 25.222 -2.414 -1.141 Titans 21.727 19.111 -2.616 0.620 Rams 21.546 18.778 -2.768 1.268 Texans 31.909 29.000 -2.909 0.991 Falcons 29.182 25.333 -3.849 -0.731 Buccaneers 23.818 18.889 -4.929 0.344

Observations:

Chargers now one of the "under-ranked" teams, though not egregiously.

It's no surprise to me that the 4 most "over-ranked" teams are in the AFC. It does surprise me that all of a sudden, Jacksonville is an "over-ranked" team. I wonder if the hype and hope is getting the best of the pundits

Broncos slightly over-ranked.

Tampa Bay can't buy any respect. Do they deserve it though considering all the drama?

Sources