It's always interesting to see how people perceive different things. Would it be so far-fetched to expect the Chargers to drop as many spots in the rankings this week as the Saints have climbed? I don't think it's that far-fetched, but I guess the good news here is that the Saints climbed in the rankings more than the Chargers fell. Call it bias, call it apologist reasoning, but I don't know that Sunday's game was rather indicative of either team's talent.

One thing I had been expecting to happen the last couple weeks has happened: the AFC West is once again the worst division in the NFL. If only the Saints and Buccaneers would just rattle off a few more wins and rise a bit in the rankings, then maybe all 4 NFC Divisions would be ranked higher than the AFC divisions. The biggest surprise this season though has to be the NFC West. They're the only division in the NFL that has all 4 teams with better than .500 records. A year ago at this time (Week 6), the NFC West had an NFL-worst average ranking of 22.875. This year, they're atop the NFL with an average ranking of 10.7368. That's quite the year-over-year improvement.

Notable Quotes

ProFootballTalk

The fact that John Unitas finished his career with the Chargers apparently was lost on the officials who decided to kill their final drive with back-to-back questionable calls. … If Drew Brees can keep setting the all-time record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass each week, will the Saints keep getting calls down the stretch to ensure that the team also wins the game?

I'm not usually a big fan of Mike Florio, but this week he gets it. *slow clap*

Reddit

Ingram's penalty that negated a pick six dug the grave; the Defense running out of gas closed the casket. The offense is still struggling on third down conversions, and poor situational play calling isn't helping. Penalties: real, fabricated, and ignored completely helped the better story win. Finishing games would at least negate some questionable calls, but momentum is hard to gain back once it slips away.

Sports Illustrated

With Oakland and Kansas City going nowhere this season, the winner of Monday night's Denver at San Diego game should tell us plenty about the outcome of the AFC West race this year. The Chargers can really take command with a win, putting themselves two games up on the Broncos, plus the tiebreaker, as San Diego enters its Week 7 bye week. But it's not like Norv Turner's club to make things easy on itself, is it? The Chargers like challenges, especially ones they could have easily avoided with a bit more consistent performance

Fox

I still don't understand why RB Jackie Battle is starting in place of Ryan Mathews. We all see what he can do with the ball in his hands, but he is averaging just 16 touches per game … only 12 of those coming via handoffs.

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking NFC West 10.6579 NFC North 11.2368 NFC East 14.6053 AFC North 16.3816 AFC East 18.1316 NFC South 19.0789 AFC South 20.5000 AFC West 21.4079

Stock Rising

Team Week 5 Average Week 6 Average Difference IND 29.091 20.818 8.273 MIN 14.364 8.636 5.728 MIA 26.364 21.455 4.909 PIT 14.636 9.818 4.818 STL 19.364 15.909 3.455

Stock Falling

Team Week 5 Average Week 6 Average Difference BUF 19.909 25.909 -6.000 ARI 5.636 9.546 -3.910 GB 8.000 11.727 -3.727 TEN 26.182 29.636 -3.454 CAR 23.455 26.818 -3.363

Subjective Average

Subjective Texans 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Falcons 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2.091 0.000 49ers 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2.909 0.455 Ravens 4 6 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4.273 -0.546 Patriots 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 6 5 5 5.000 1.455 Bears 6 4 6 7 6 6 7 6 5 6 6 5.909 2.637 Giants 7 7 7 6 9 7 6 7 11 7 7 7.364 2.727 Vikings 8 9 8 11 7 8 12 8 7 9 8 8.636 5.728 Cardinals 9 8 9 14 8 10 11 9 9 8 10 9.546 -3.910 Steelers 10 10 10 10 10 12 8 11 8 10 9 9.818 4.818 Eagles 11 11 12 13 11 13 9 10 10 12 11 11.182 -3.273 Packers 12 12 16 8 12 11 10 13 12 11 12 11.727 -3.727 Chargers 14 16 13 12 13 17 16 12 14 14 13 14.000 -2.364 Bengals 15 13 11 17 17 16 17 16 13 15 14 14.909 -3.273 Broncos 17 17 17 9 15 14 13 15 19 13 16 15.000 -2.000 Seahawks 16 18 15 16 16 15 15 14 15 16 15 15.546 1.363 Rams 18 14 14 15 14 9 18 18 20 18 17 15.909 3.455 Cowboys 13 15 18 18 18 19 14 17 16 17 18 16.636 -1.000 Redskins 21 21 19 20 21 20 20 20 18 19 19 19.818 -1.454 Colts 22 20 20 22 19 18 21 25 17 23 22 20.818 8.273 Dolphins 19 22 23 23 20 23 19 19 26 22 20 21.455 4.909 Lions 20 23 22 19 23 25 23 21 21 20 23 21.818 -1.000 Saints 24 19 25 21 26 22 24 24 25 26 21 23.364 3.182 Jets 25 27 24 25 22 21 25 22 22 24 24 23.727 -1.272 Buccaneers 23 25 27 24 25 24 22 23 23 21 25 23.818 -0.545 Bills 27 28 21 26 24 29 26 26 24 27 27 25.909 -6.000 Panthers 26 26 30 27 27 27 27 27 27 25 26 26.818 -3.363 Chiefs 30 24 29 29 29 26 30 28 28 28 29 28.182 -1.091 Raiders 29 29 26 28 28 30 28 29 30 29 28 28.546 0.363 Titans 28 30 28 30 31 28 29 30 32 30 30 29.636 -3.454 Jaguars 31 31 32 31 32 31 31 31 29 31 31 31.000 -1.182 Browns 32 32 31 32 30 32 32 32 31 32 32 31.636 0.091

Observations:

Yes, still boycotting SportingNews until they get rid of their awful slideshow version of the Power Rankings.

I had been using what I thought was USA Today's subjective Power Rankings, but I was wrong. I've now found the correct Power Rankings and they're now included in this week's rankings. Their rankings should be a little less WTF-worthy this week.

Chargers only dropped an average of 2.3 spots this week. Not horrible. Saints climbed 3.182 though.

What is going on in Green Bay? Have they lost their edge?

Texans are still your consensus number-1. The Falcons and 49ers were almost consensus 2nd and 3rd rankings as well, but Reddit has to go and mess things up.

After a weak showing against Kansas City, the Ravens are slipping slightly.

The Jets continue their freefall.

The best part of having a bye this week for the Raiders? They didn't lose. As such, they rose slighlty in the rankings this week.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Texans 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 0.000 Falcons 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 0.288 0.000 49ers 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 0.288 -0.355 Patriots 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 6 5 5 0.426 -0.879 Ravens 4 6 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 0.617 0.000 Browns 32 32 31 32 30 32 32 32 31 32 32 0.643 -0.219 Jaguars 31 31 32 31 32 31 31 31 29 31 31 0.739 -0.597 Bears 6 4 6 7 6 6 7 6 5 6 6 0.793 -0.706 Redskins 21 21 19 20 21 20 20 20 18 19 19 0.936 -0.043 Seahawks 16 18 15 16 16 15 15 14 15 16 15 0.988 -0.095 Raiders 29 29 26 28 28 30 28 29 30 29 28 1.076 -1.669 Steelers 10 10 10 10 10 12 8 11 8 10 9 1.113 -1.194 Panthers 26 26 30 27 27 27 27 27 27 25 26 1.192 -1.308 Eagles 11 11 12 13 11 13 9 10 10 12 11 1.192 -0.048 Titans 28 30 28 30 31 28 29 30 32 30 30 1.226 -0.766 Giants 7 7 7 6 9 7 6 7 11 7 7 1.367 -0.309 Vikings 8 9 8 11 7 8 12 8 7 9 8 1.494 -1.245 Buccaneers 23 25 27 24 25 24 22 23 23 21 25 1.585 0.372 Chargers 14 16 13 12 13 17 16 12 14 14 13 1.595 0.163 Cardinals 9 8 9 14 8 10 11 9 9 8 10 1.671 -0.249 Lions 20 23 22 19 23 25 23 21 21 20 23 1.696 -0.820 Chiefs 30 24 29 29 29 26 30 28 28 28 29 1.696 0.613 Jets 25 27 24 25 22 21 25 22 22 24 24 1.710 -0.117 Cowboys 13 15 18 18 18 19 14 17 16 17 18 1.823 0.051 Packers 12 12 16 8 12 11 10 13 12 11 12 1.863 -0.311 Bengals 15 13 11 17 17 16 17 16 13 15 14 1.881 -0.757 Bills 27 28 21 26 24 29 26 26 24 27 27 2.109 0.869 Dolphins 19 22 23 23 20 23 19 19 26 22 20 2.148 0.325 Saints 24 19 25 21 26 22 24 24 25 26 21 2.186 -1.288 Colts 22 20 20 22 19 18 21 25 17 23 22 2.208 0.015 Broncos 17 17 17 9 15 14 13 15 19 13 16 2.594 1.117 Rams 18 14 14 15 14 9 18 18 20 18 17 2.937 0.132

Observations:

I know the Rams looked impressive on Thursday against the Cardinals, but 9th? Really PFT?

Also, USA Today is hurting the Broncos' consistency by ranking them 9th as well.

It's no surprise that the 7 teams with the lowest Standard Devation are at the top and bottom of the list. Though it's kind of cool to see there's pretty much a consensus of the top 5 teams in the league.

Pretty good consensus on the Redskins and Seahawks this week at ~20 and ~16 respectively.

Notice how many green arrows there are this week compared to last week? This means teams are starting to slowly settle in to their rankings.

Objective Average

Objective Texans 5 2 1 2 4 1 3 1 2.375 -0.232 49ers 1 1 2 1 9 4 2 3 2.875 2.839 Bears 3 6 3 4 2 2 1 4 3.125 4.589 Falcons 4 4 4 6 5 5 5 2 4.375 -0.804 Patriots 2 8 7 3 14 3 4 7 6.000 -1.000 Vikings 10 9 6 7 6 8 8 5 7.375 2.196 Ravens 9 11 9 5 8 7 12 6 8.375 -4.089 Cardinals 19 21 5 15 1 12 6 11 11.250 -3.250 Broncos 8 3 12 10 19 19 10 10 11.375 -2.518 Seahawks 11 17 10 12 7 18 7 15 12.125 1.732 Giants 7 14 22 8 20 6 13 8 12.250 -0.107 Dolphins 12 5 11 19 11 10 17 14 12.375 4.768 Packers 6 16 15 9 25 14 9 9 12.875 -1.732 Eagles 16 7 16 14 10 15 21 13 14.000 -4.000 Rams 26 15 8 22 3 20 11 12 14.625 7.804 Cowboys 17 12 19 18 12 22 14 20 16.750 1.679 Steelers 13 24 18 11 18 11 22 17 16.750 1.964 Chargers 15 20 21 13 15 16 19 16 16.875 -3.446 Lions 14 13 20 23 21 9 15 23 17.250 4.607 Bengals 25 18 14 17 13 23 23 19 19.000 -5.000 Redskins 21 22 23 21 23 17 16 18 20.125 1.732 Colts 23 27 17 20 16 25 18 25 21.375 2.768 Jets 24 19 13 24 17 31 24 26 22.250 0.036 Panthers 20 10 30 28 31 24 25 24 24.000 -1.286 Buccaneers 22 31 31 25 29 13 20 21 24.000 2.286 Saints 18 30 29 16 32 21 26 22 24.250 2.036 Bills 27 28 25 27 24 29 29 27 27.000 -5.286 Browns 29 25 32 26 30 27 28 28 28.125 -2.411 Raiders 28 23 27 31 26 30 32 29 28.250 -0.107 Titans 31 26 26 29 22 32 31 32 28.625 -3.196 Jaguars 32 32 24 32 27 28 27 30 29.000 -3.571 Chiefs 30 29 28 30 28 26 30 31 29.000 1.000

Observations:

Look! Even more Objective rankings sites! This week Troy Aikman comes back into the fold. Now there are only 3 fewer Objective sources than Subjective. It's a bit more balanced now.

Wow, the bottom 6 teams are all AFC teams. 37.5% of the teams in teh AFC account for the worst objectively-wraned teams. And there's a decent distance between the Bills and the Saints.

Ouch. Chargers drop further this week in Objective Rankings than they did in the Subjective Rankings. That's not a good sign.

Heh, the Chiefs are the worst team in the league based on the Objective Rankings, yet they climbed a full ranking this week, tied with the Jaguars now.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Falcons 4 4 4 6 5 5 5 2 1.111 -0.480 Texans 5 2 1 2 4 1 3 1 1.409 -0.475 Bears 3 6 3 4 2 2 1 4 1.452 0.174 Chiefs 30 29 28 30 28 26 30 31 1.500 -0.638 Vikings 10 9 6 7 6 8 8 5 1.576 -1.580 Bills 27 28 25 27 24 29 29 27 1.658 -1.053 Browns 29 25 32 26 30 27 28 28 2.088 -0.515 Ravens 9 11 9 5 8 7 12 6 2.233 1.533 49ers 1 1 2 1 9 4 2 3 2.522 0.772 Redskins 21 22 23 21 23 17 16 18 2.571 -2.484 Chargers 15 20 21 13 15 16 19 16 2.619 -0.151 Raiders 28 23 27 31 26 30 32 29 2.727 -0.876 Jaguars 32 32 24 32 27 28 27 30 2.784 -2.140 Titans 31 26 26 29 22 32 31 32 3.389 -0.982 Cowboys 17 12 19 18 12 22 14 20 3.491 -0.245 Patriots 2 8 7 3 14 3 4 7 3.674 0.293 Colts 23 27 17 20 16 25 18 25 3.903 -0.183 Eagles 16 7 16 14 10 15 21 13 3.937 -0.567 Seahawks 11 17 10 12 7 18 7 15 3.951 -1.325 Dolphins 12 5 11 19 11 10 17 14 4.060 0.045 Bengals 25 18 14 17 13 23 23 19 4.093 -0.150 Steelers 13 24 18 11 18 11 22 17 4.521 0.155 Lions 14 13 20 23 21 9 15 23 4.867 1.823 Broncos 8 3 12 10 19 19 10 10 5.048 1.566 Jets 24 19 13 24 17 31 24 26 5.286 0.920 Saints 18 30 29 16 32 21 26 22 5.494 -0.914 Packers 6 16 15 9 25 14 9 9 5.644 1.421 Giants 7 14 22 8 20 6 13 8 5.717 2.235 Buccaneers 22 31 31 25 29 13 20 21 5.852 2.199 Panthers 20 10 30 28 31 24 25 24 6.265 -2.927 Cardinals 19 21 5 15 1 12 6 11 6.534 -1.006 Rams 26 15 8 22 3 20 11 12 7.175 1.131

Observations:

Fairly good consensus on the Falcons at ~4.5 ranking.

Now the NFC occupies the 7 highest Standard Deviation positions, including 3 of the 4 NFC South teams (the fourth being the most-consistently ranked team)

Chargers one of the more-consistently ranked teams.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Texans 1.000 2.375 1.688 -0.117 49ers 2.909 2.875 2.892 1.647 Falcons 2.091 4.375 3.233 -0.402 Bears 5.909 3.125 4.517 3.613 Patriots 5.000 6.000 5.500 0.227 Ravens 4.273 8.375 6.324 -2.317 Vikings 8.636 7.375 8.006 3.962 Giants 7.364 12.250 9.807 1.310 Cardinals 9.546 11.250 10.398 -3.580 Packers 11.727 12.875 12.301 -2.730 Eagles 11.182 14.000 12.591 -3.636 Broncos 15.000 11.375 13.188 -2.259 Steelers 9.818 16.750 13.284 3.391 Seahawks 15.546 12.125 13.835 1.548 Rams 15.909 14.625 15.267 5.629 Chargers 14.000 16.875 15.438 -2.905 Cowboys 16.636 16.750 16.693 0.340 Dolphins 21.455 12.375 16.915 4.838 Bengals 14.909 19.000 16.955 -4.137 Lions 21.818 17.250 19.534 1.804 Redskins 19.818 20.125 19.972 0.138 Colts 20.818 21.375 21.097 5.520 Jets 23.727 22.250 22.989 -0.619 Saints 23.364 24.250 23.807 2.609 Buccaneers 23.818 24.000 23.909 0.870 Panthers 26.818 24.000 25.409 -2.325 Bills 25.909 27.000 26.455 -5.643 Raiders 28.546 28.250 28.398 0.128 Chiefs 28.182 29.000 28.591 -0.046 Titans 29.636 28.625 29.131 -3.326 Browns 31.636 28.125 29.881 -1.160 Jaguars 31.000 29.000 30.000 -2.377

Observations:

Texans still on top, though slipping slightly. Still have a comfortable lead over the 49ers right now.

NFC teams occupy 9 of the top 12 spots.

Amusing how the Cowboys and Chargers both carry "underachieving" labels over the years and they're nestled together in the middle of this ranking.

Dolphins finally starting to get some respect, but you'll see shortly that it's not quite enough.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Texans 1.000 2.375 1.139 -0.162 Falcons 2.091 4.375 1.356 0.109 49ers 2.909 2.875 1.651 -0.009 Vikings 8.636 7.375 1.651 -2.080 Chiefs 28.182 29.000 1.666 -0.457 Bears 5.909 3.125 1.772 0.298 Redskins 19.818 20.125 1.820 -1.844 Raiders 28.546 28.250 1.955 -1.174 Bills 25.909 27.000 2.006 -0.132 Jaguars 31.000 29.000 2.134 -1.752 Browns 31.636 28.125 2.254 -1.164 Titans 29.636 28.625 2.440 -0.720 Patriots 5.000 6.000 2.456 0.009 Chargers 14.000 16.875 2.525 0.289 Ravens 4.273 8.375 2.534 1.829 Cowboys 16.636 16.750 2.657 -0.376 Eagles 11.182 14.000 3.047 -0.094 Colts 20.818 21.375 3.052 -0.853 Seahawks 15.546 12.125 3.161 -0.548 Bengals 14.909 19.000 3.630 0.083 Jets 23.727 22.250 3.740 0.664 Saints 23.364 24.250 3.958 -0.875 Packers 11.727 12.875 3.968 0.479 Buccaneers 23.818 24.000 3.985 1.113 Lions 21.818 17.250 4.090 1.310 Broncos 15.000 11.375 4.222 1.040 Panthers 26.818 24.000 4.392 -1.675 Cardinals 9.546 11.250 4.506 -0.563 Giants 7.364 12.250 4.546 1.820 Steelers 9.818 16.750 4.587 0.764 Rams 15.909 14.625 5.203 0.594 Dolphins 21.455 12.375 5.450 0.111

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Steelers 9.818 16.750 6.932 -2.854 Giants 7.364 12.250 4.886 -2.834 Ravens 4.273 8.375 4.102 -3.544 Bengals 14.909 19.000 4.091 -1.727 Chargers 14.000 16.875 2.875 -1.083 Eagles 11.182 14.000 2.818 -0.727 Falcons 2.091 4.375 2.284 -0.803 Cardinals 9.546 11.250 1.705 0.659 Texans 1.000 2.375 1.375 -0.232 Packers 11.727 12.875 1.148 1.995 Bills 25.909 27.000 1.091 0.714 Patriots 5.000 6.000 1.000 -2.455 Saints 23.364 24.250 0.886 -1.146 Chiefs 28.182 29.000 0.818 2.091 Colts 20.818 21.375 0.557 -5.505 Redskins 19.818 20.125 0.307 3.187 Buccaneers 23.818 24.000 0.182 2.831 Cowboys 16.636 16.750 0.114 2.678 49ers 2.909 2.875 -0.034 2.385 Raiders 28.546 28.250 -0.296 -0.470 Titans 29.636 28.625 -1.011 0.258 Vikings 8.636 7.375 -1.261 -3.531 Rams 15.909 14.625 -1.284 4.349 Jets 23.727 22.250 -1.477 1.308 Jaguars 31.000 29.000 -2.000 -2.390 Bears 5.909 3.125 -2.784 1.953 Panthers 26.818 24.000 -2.818 2.078 Seahawks 15.546 12.125 -3.421 0.369 Browns 31.636 28.125 -3.511 -2.502 Broncos 15.000 11.375 -3.625 -0.518 Lions 21.818 17.250 -4.568 5.607 Dolphins 21.455 12.375 -9.080 -0.141

Observations:

Time to bust out the "Most Overrated" and "Most Underrated" teams label finally.

Most Overrated team: Pittsburgh Steelers. Most Underrated: Miami Dolphins.

Wow, the Dolphins are under-ranked by 9 full spots. They're actually Objectively playing better than the Chargers right now.

Uh oh, the Chargers are actually overranked a bit. Guess the loss to the Saints was worse than many want to believe or realize.

A lot of teams (10 in fact) are within 1 spot of their objective and subjective rankings. These teams are less likely to surprise or disappoint.

Sources