More shakeups! Thankfully the NFL didn't save all the big surprises for week 1 as week 2 saw a few more shocking outcomes. Who would have ever expected the Cardinals could ever knock-off the Patriots in Foxboro? Or the Seahawks completely dominating the Cowboys? Or the Saints dropping to 0-2 at the hands of the Carolina Panthers? Or who expected the Chiefs to be this bad to start the season?

This is the beauty of the NFL: your pre-conceived notions mean nothing. The game is played on the field and what you expect to happen means nothing once the game starts. Now, I said that as kind of a blanket statement, but it does become less and less true as the season goes on.

Heading into this week, this is absolutely the Chargers' "Statement Game." Should they manage to beat the Falcons, this will go a long way to improving their stock. They have already risen quite a bit (you'll see that shortly), but this will make a statement. Maybe not quite as strong a statement as Arizona taking down the Patriots, but it'll solidify the Chargers as a top-10 team.

Notable Quotes

Sports Illustrated

I know I quote SI a lot, but Don Banks is easily the most on-point of all the pundits week-in-and-week-out.

I'm containing my enthusiasm for the Chargers because they've beaten a pair of AFC bottom-feeders in Oakland and Tennessee. But you can't downgrade San Diego too far for getting two Ws and only allowing 24 points in the process. So the Norv Turner Survivor Tour rolls on into Week 3, and a much tougher test awaits this week as red-hot Atlanta pays a visit to Qualcomm Stadium. That should tell us a little bit more about who these Chargers really are.

ProFootballTalk

Yes, they’ve beaten no one. But the fact that the notoriously slow-starting Chargers have charged to 2-0 is big news.

Fox

The Chargers nearly doubled the offensive production of the Titans and that was without two of their biggest weapons in Antonio Gates and Ryan Mathews. The Chargers have historically gotten off to a slow start, but now sitting at 2-0, it may be time to take them seriously again.

Reddit

Run plays up the gut were designed for players like Jackie Battle. Luckily, Norv Turner realized the Chargers have a Jackie Battle and put him in late in the game. Dominant clock management, Dante Rosario, and a relentless defensive performance put this game in the win column. First 2-0 start since 06!

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking NFC East 11.9306 NFC West 13.9167 NFC North 14.5000 AFC North 15.9861 NFC South 16.2500 AFC East 17.6944 AFC West 19.9444 AFC South 21.7778

So the NFC is becoming the powerhouse conference in the NFL now as the top 3 divisions are NFC divisions, and the AFC occupies the bottom 3 positions. As you'll see later, the only thing keeping the AFC West out of the cellar is the Chargers and Broncos being ranked higher. Get it together Kansas City and Oakland!

Stock Rising

Team Week 2 Average Week 3 Average Difference ARI 22.000 14.643 7.357 SDG 16.462 11.214 5.248 SEA 23.385 18.143 5.242 PHI 11.308 6.286 5.022 MIA 30.923 26.571 4.352





Observations:

The Chargers are on the move!

It's no surprise that the 2-0 Cardinals, coming off a huge upset of New England, have risen the most.

Should the Chargers knock off the Falcons, I can't wait to see how much more they'd climb.

Maybe it was a bit early to completely write off Miami in Week 1

You'll see shortly, this likely won't be the last time we see Seattle on this list

Stock Falling

Team Week 2 Average Week 3 Average Difference NO 12.846 19.786 -6.940 KC 20.923 27.857 -6.934 NE 1.385 5.643 -4.258 DAL 9.077 13.286 -4.209 TEN 23.539 27.643 -4.104





Observations:

EVERYONE OFF THE NEW ORLEANS BANDWAGON!

It's no surprise the Chiefs are slipping this quickly, they have looked awful in the first two games. And as you'll see in a bit, they likely haven't hit rock-bottom yet.

in the first two games. And as you'll see in a bit, they likely haven't hit rock-bottom yet. Glad to see the Chargers were able to knock Tennessee into the "Stock Falling" list

Subjective Average

Subjective 49ers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 1.000 Texans 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2.286 1.560 Packers 4 6 7 2 3 3 4 5 3 2 3 3 3 4 3.714 1.748 Falcons 3 3 3 5 6 9 3 3 6 5 4 4 4 5 4.500 2.115 Ravens 6 5 6 6 4 6 6 4 5 6 6 5 5 8 5.571 -2.417 Patriots 5 8 10 3 5 5 7 6 4 3 7 6 7 3 5.643 -4.258 Eagles 7 4 4 8 7 4 5 9 7 8 5 8 6 6 6.286 5.022 Giants 8 7 15 7 8 8 9 8 8 7 9 7 8 7 8.286 0.176 Steelers 9 9 8 11 10 7 10 10 10 11 8 9 10 9 9.357 1.951 Broncos 10 12 13 14 9 10 8 7 9 14 11 11 11 10 10.643 -2.258 Chargers 11 15 5 15 12 11 11 11 11 15 10 10 9 11 11.214 5.248 Bears 12 10 14 13 14 18 12 12 12 13 13 12 15 13 13.071 -3.994 Cowboys 15 13 12 9 15 17 15 13 13 9 15 14 14 12 13.286 -4.209 Lions 13 11 17 10 17 14 14 14 15 10 12 13 13 16 13.500 -0.269 Cardinals 14 16 9 17 11 12 13 16 14 17 16 15 12 23 14.643 7.357 Bengals 16 14 16 18 20 21 20 15 20 18 18 16 18 20 17.857 0.143 Panthers 19 20 18 16 21 13 18 17 19 16 22 21 17 15 18.000 3.385 Seahawks 17 22 11 20 13 15 16 20 21 20 23 20 19 17 18.143 5.242 Jets 18 17 19 19 22 19 19 22 17 19 20 18 16 18 18.786 -2.940 Redskins 20 19 21 21 16 16 17 19 18 21 17 19 20 21 18.929 -3.083 Saints 24 24 23 12 23 24 22 18 23 12 14 22 22 14 19.786 -6.940 Buccaneers 21 18 24 22 18 22 21 21 16 22 24 17 21 22 20.643 -0.258 Bills 22 21 20 23 24 20 23 23 22 23 19 23 23 19 21.786 2.599 Rams 23 23 22 24 19 23 24 24 24 24 27 24 24 26 23.643 3.972 Colts 27 25 25 30 25 25 25 27 26 30 21 25 25 27 25.929 3.225 Dolphins 25 29 26 28 27 26 26 25 25 28 26 26 26 29 26.571 4.352 Vikings 29 28 30 26 26 27 27 28 28 26 25 27 27 28 27.286 -1.363 Titans 26 27 29 25 31 29 28 26 29 25 29 30 28 25 27.643 -4.104 Chiefs 28 26 28 27 30 28 29 29 27 27 28 28 31 24 27.857 -6.934 Raiders 30 30 27 29 32 30 31 32 31 29 31 29 30 31 30.143 -3.989 Browns 32 31 32 31 29 32 30 30 32 31 30 31 29 32 30.857 0.143 Jaguars 31 32 31 32 28 31 32 31 30 32 32 32 32 30 31.143 -2.220

Observations:

Well that didn't take long. The 49ers are your unanimous pick for the best team in the NFL.

Even though the NFC dominates the divisional rankings, interestingly enough the top 12 teams are evenly split between the NFC and AFC.

But, AFC teams occupy all of the bottom-5 spots this week. Way to bring the class down, fellas.

Though the Browns lost again this week, they actually moved up slightly, but only to make room for the Jaguars.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective 49ers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.785 Texans 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 0.700 -0.069 Ravens 6 5 6 6 4 6 6 4 5 6 6 5 5 8 0.979 -0.047 Browns 32 31 32 31 29 32 30 30 32 31 30 31 29 32 1.060 0.275 Steelers 9 9 8 11 10 7 10 10 10 11 8 9 10 9 1.109 -0.573 Jaguars 31 32 31 32 28 31 32 31 30 32 32 32 32 30 1.125 0.128 Vikings 29 28 30 26 26 27 27 28 28 26 25 27 27 28 1.278 0.071 Raiders 30 30 27 29 32 30 31 32 31 29 31 29 30 31 1.302 -1.905 Dolphins 25 29 26 28 27 26 26 25 25 28 26 26 26 29 1.348 0.277 Packers 4 6 7 2 3 3 4 5 3 2 3 3 3 4 1.385 0.107 Bills 22 21 20 23 24 20 23 23 22 23 19 23 23 19 1.612 -0.520 Eagles 7 4 4 8 7 4 5 9 7 8 5 8 6 6 1.623 -0.990 Falcons 3 3 3 5 6 9 3 3 6 5 4 4 4 5 1.637 -0.306 Chiefs 28 26 28 27 30 28 29 29 27 27 28 28 31 24 1.641 -1.033 Jets 18 17 19 19 22 19 19 22 17 19 20 18 16 18 1.655 0.424 Rams 23 23 22 24 19 23 24 24 24 24 27 24 24 26 1.757 -0.146 Bears 12 10 14 13 14 18 12 12 12 13 13 12 15 13 1.791 -0.302 Redskins 20 19 21 21 16 16 17 19 18 21 17 19 20 21 1.791 -0.203 Titans 26 27 29 25 31 29 28 26 29 25 29 30 28 25 1.913 0.007 Giants 8 7 15 7 8 8 9 8 8 7 9 7 8 7 1.980 -0.081 Patriots 5 8 10 3 5 5 7 6 4 3 7 6 7 3 1.986 1.361 Broncos 10 12 13 14 9 10 8 7 9 14 11 11 11 10 2.022 -0.566 Bengals 16 14 16 18 20 21 20 15 20 18 18 16 18 20 2.100 -0.412 Cowboys 15 13 12 9 15 17 15 13 13 9 15 14 14 12 2.185 0.500 Colts 27 25 25 30 25 25 25 27 26 30 21 25 25 27 2.187 -0.996 Lions 13 11 17 10 17 14 14 14 15 10 12 13 13 16 2.196 0.669 Buccaneers 21 18 24 22 18 22 21 21 16 22 24 17 21 22 2.379 0.358 Panthers 19 20 18 16 21 13 18 17 19 16 22 21 17 15 2.450 0.213 Chargers 11 15 5 15 12 11 11 11 11 15 10 10 9 11 2.541 1.041 Cardinals 14 16 9 17 11 12 13 16 14 17 16 15 12 23 3.265 0.409 Seahawks 17 22 11 20 13 15 16 20 21 20 23 20 19 17 3.335 0.602 Saints 24 24 23 12 23 24 22 18 23 12 14 22 22 14 4.554 2.807

Observations:

See? I told you the 49ers were the unanimous choice

The Texans aren't too far behind at that 2nd-best spot

The Ravens are slowly settling into the number-6 spot

Chargers are on the move this week, but not everyone is convinced

There are a few die-hards in there holding onto that hope that the Saints aren't that bad. The Saints are ranked anywhere from 12th down to 24th; that's quite a swing!

Objective Average

Objective 49ers 13 2 4 1 5.000 3.000 Patriots 1 7 1 16 6.250 -4.917 Packers 2 13 3 7 6.250 2.083 Ravens 5 6 2 12 6.250 -2.250 Falcons 3 9 11 3 6.500 2.500 Eagles 11 4 7 4 6.500 1.167 Texans 4 10 6 8 7.000 1.667 Seahawks 21 3 8 5 9.250 10.083 Steelers 10 12 5 14 10.250 2.417 Broncos 8 16 12 6 10.500 0.500 Cardinals 30 1 10 2 10.750 8.250 Cowboys 16 5 16 9 11.500 -5.500 Chargers 15 11 9 11 11.500 0.833 Giants 14 8 14 17 13.250 -2.583 Bears 7 21 13 13 13.500 -3.167 Lions 19 14 17 10 15.000 3.667 Jets 6 20 15 21 15.500 -5.833 Dolphins 23 18 20 15 19.000 6.000 Redskins 22 15 19 23 19.750 -6.083 Bengals 25 17 24 19 21.250 1.750 Saints 12 23 18 32 21.250 -8.250 Panthers 9 22 27 28 21.500 2.500 Bills 17 25 26 24 23.000 2.333 Buccaneers 18 24 28 22 23.000 -1.333 Rams 32 19 29 18 24.500 6.833 Colts 28 29 22 20 24.750 2.917 Titans 24 27 21 27 24.750 -4.417 Vikings 20 31 23 25 24.750 -2.750 Browns 29 26 25 29 27.250 -1.250 Raiders 26 28 30 26 27.500 -1.167 Chiefs 27 30 32 31 30.000 -5.667 Jaguars 31 32 31 30 31.000 -3.333

Observations:

I'll be the first to admit: it's kind of hard to compare these numbers to last week's as the sources have changed each week

Even though it's labeled "DVOA", that ranking actually uses Football Outsider's DAVE rating. I should fix that ...

Right now, DAVE relies on 75% pre-season projections to rank teams. That's why the 49ers are still ranked 13th over at Football Outsiders, but 4-or-better at the other sites.

Most of the Objective rankings take until about Week 4 before there's enough data to objectively portray a team's play accurately

That all said, the Chargers have climbed slightly this week in the Objective rankings, even though they've only taken out "lesser" opponents

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Jaguars 31 32 31 30 0.707 -1.787 Raiders 26 28 30 26 1.658 -0.836 Browns 29 26 25 29 1.785 -2.298 Chiefs 27 30 32 31 1.871 -3.864 Chargers 15 11 9 11 2.179 -2.605 Texans 4 10 6 8 2.236 -1.163 Titans 24 27 21 27 2.488 -0.006 Eagles 11 4 7 4 2.872 0.515 Dolphins 23 18 20 15 2.916 -0.643 Redskins 22 15 19 23 3.113 -2.906 Giants 14 8 14 17 3.269 -1.445 Bengals 25 17 24 19 3.345 1.931 Steelers 10 12 5 14 3.345 -1.152 Lions 19 14 17 10 3.391 0.300 Bills 17 25 26 24 3.536 -0.235 Falcons 3 9 11 3 3.571 -2.145 Buccaneers 18 24 28 22 3.606 -1.178 Ravens 5 6 2 12 3.632 2.218 Colts 28 29 22 20 3.832 -0.358 Broncos 8 16 12 6 3.841 1.013 Vikings 20 31 23 25 4.023 1.573 Packers 2 13 3 7 4.323 -0.666 Cowboys 16 5 16 9 4.717 0.171 49ers 13 2 4 1 4.743 -2.328 Bears 7 21 13 13 4.975 -0.818 Jets 6 20 15 21 5.937 3.312 Rams 32 19 29 18 6.103 5.160 Patriots 1 7 1 16 6.139 5.668 Seahawks 21 3 8 5 7.013 2.024 Saints 12 23 18 32 7.327 3.768 Panthers 9 22 27 28 7.566 -0.223 Cardinals 30 1 10 2 11.649 2.233

Observations:

That's crazy, all 4 of the worst-ranked teams overall also happen to have the lowest Standard Deviation, meaning the consensus is there that they're all terrible.

Who breaks that trend? The Chargers! They're one of the more consistently-ranked teams

Remember me talking about that DAVE ranking? Well it seems to be holding Arizona down as FBO has them ranked 30th, yet the other sites much higher. Same story for Seattle.

The inverse is true for New Orleans and Carolina

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj 49ers 1.000 5.000 3.000 2.000 Texans 2.286 7.000 4.643 1.613 Packers 3.714 6.250 4.982 1.915 Falcons 4.500 6.500 5.500 2.308 Ravens 5.571 6.250 5.911 -2.334 Patriots 5.643 6.250 5.946 -4.587 Eagles 6.286 6.500 6.393 3.094 Steelers 9.357 10.250 9.804 2.183 Broncos 10.643 10.500 10.571 -0.879 Giants 8.286 13.250 10.768 -1.204 Chargers 11.214 11.500 11.357 3.040 Cowboys 13.286 11.500 12.393 -4.855 Cardinals 14.643 10.750 12.696 7.804 Bears 13.071 13.500 13.286 -3.581 Seahawks 18.143 9.250 13.696 7.663 Lions 13.500 15.000 14.250 1.699 Jets 18.786 15.500 17.143 -4.387 Redskins 18.929 19.750 19.339 -4.583 Bengals 17.857 21.250 19.554 0.946 Panthers 18.000 21.500 19.750 2.942 Saints 19.786 21.250 20.518 -7.595 Buccaneers 20.643 23.000 21.821 -0.795 Bills 21.786 23.000 22.393 2.466 Dolphins 26.571 19.000 22.786 5.176 Rams 23.643 24.500 24.071 5.403 Colts 25.929 24.750 25.339 3.071 Vikings 27.286 24.750 26.018 -2.056 Titans 27.643 24.750 26.196 -4.260 Raiders 30.143 27.500 28.821 -2.577 Chiefs 27.857 30.000 28.929 -6.301 Browns 30.857 27.250 29.054 -0.554 Jaguars 31.143 31.000 31.071 -2.776

Observations:

The top-12 hasn't changed too much here

Seattle jumps quite a bit, buoyed by their Objective rankings. Same story in Miami

The Jets are being dragged back down by their Subjective rankings. Jumping ship already.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Jaguars 31.143 31.000 1.048 0.440 Raiders 30.143 27.500 1.771 1.316 Steelers 9.357 10.250 1.892 0.632 Chiefs 27.857 30.000 1.915 1.793 Ravens 5.571 6.250 1.938 -0.780 Browns 30.857 27.250 1.957 0.770 Eagles 6.286 6.500 1.972 0.962 Redskins 18.929 19.750 2.183 1.095 Bills 21.786 23.000 2.248 0.301 Texans 2.286 7.000 2.309 0.179 Falcons 4.500 6.500 2.368 0.804 Titans 27.643 24.750 2.381 0.003 Vikings 27.286 24.750 2.445 -0.288 Chargers 11.214 11.500 2.468 0.484 Broncos 10.643 10.500 2.542 0.284 Lions 13.500 15.000 2.587 0.274 Packers 3.714 6.250 2.599 0.094 Colts 25.929 24.750 2.687 0.757 49ers 1.000 5.000 2.787 1.132 Bengals 17.857 21.250 2.812 0.239 Bears 13.071 13.500 2.833 0.344 Buccaneers 20.643 23.000 2.872 -0.068 Cowboys 13.286 11.500 3.035 -0.274 Giants 8.286 13.250 3.112 -0.221 Rams 23.643 24.500 3.287 -1.003 Patriots 5.643 6.250 3.392 -2.792 Jets 18.786 15.500 3.440 -0.552 Dolphins 26.571 19.000 3.635 -0.693 Panthers 18.000 21.500 4.417 -0.357 Saints 19.786 21.250 5.332 -3.128 Seahawks 18.143 9.250 5.766 -2.128 Cardinals 14.643 10.750 6.408 -1.446

Observations:

You would be confident in saying the Jaguars, Raiders and Chiefs are not very good teams right now

You could be just as confident in saying the Steelers, Ravens and Eagles are actually pretty good teams right now

The Cardinals and Seahawks being at the bottom of this list is no surprise. There are some pundits still holding on to their perception of these teams, but the numbers say otherwise. Also, see: Outsiders, Football

The Chargers fall right around the middle. So they're kind of consistantly-ranked, ish.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Giants 8.286 13.250 4.964 -2.759 Texans 2.286 7.000 4.714 0.107 49ers 1.000 5.000 4.000 2.000 Panthers 18.000 21.500 3.500 -0.885 Bengals 17.857 21.250 3.393 1.607 Packers 3.714 6.250 2.536 0.336 Buccaneers 20.643 23.000 2.357 -1.075 Chiefs 27.857 30.000 2.143 1.267 Falcons 4.500 6.500 2.000 0.385 Lions 13.500 15.000 1.500 3.936 Saints 19.786 21.250 1.464 -1.310 Bills 21.786 23.000 1.214 -0.265 Steelers 9.357 10.250 0.893 0.466 Rams 23.643 24.500 0.857 2.861 Redskins 18.929 19.750 0.821 -3.001 Ravens 5.571 6.250 0.679 0.167 Patriots 5.643 6.250 0.607 -0.658 Bears 13.071 13.500 0.429 0.827 Chargers 11.214 11.500 0.286 -4.414 Eagles 6.286 6.500 0.214 -3.855 Jaguars 31.143 31.000 -0.143 -1.113 Broncos 10.643 10.500 -0.143 2.758 Colts 25.929 24.750 -1.179 -0.308 Cowboys 13.286 11.500 -1.786 -1.291 Vikings 27.286 24.750 -2.536 -1.387 Raiders 30.143 27.500 -2.643 2.823 Titans 27.643 24.750 -2.893 -0.312 Jets 18.786 15.500 -3.286 -2.894 Browns 30.857 27.250 -3.607 -1.393 Cardinals 14.643 10.750 -3.893 0.893 Dolphins 26.571 19.000 -7.571 1.648 Seahawks 18.143 9.250 -8.893 4.842

Observations:

The Giants bounce back and win their second game and all of a sudden everyone is back on board. Not so fast, maybe? This is a fickle bunch.

Based on past coverage I've seen, it seems like the media has been wanting the Texans to be good for quite a while now. In this instance, it seems like they're hyping them up a little bit too much still. Either that or the objective rankings haven't caught up to them yet.

The media this year seems to feel slighted by the Chargers. Any early success is met with skepticism with a sense of, "we've trusted you before, we don't believe you anymore." Hopefully they can prove everyone wrong this week and dominate the Falcons.

Kansas City, based on the numbers, is playing even worse than perceived. They have a little bit more to fall.

Miami and Seattle, though they're at opposite corners of the country share one thing in common: they get no respect. Rodney Dangerfield says hello (from the grave).

Sources