The Chargers put up their first real stinker of the season this week, and the rankings reflect that. In the other two losses this year, the Chargers were at least competitive and held leads and only lost in the waning seconds. Against the Raiders, though ... woof.

To start the season, it was discussed that the Chargers were a talented team that lacked depth. A few key injuries on both sides of the ball, and now they're faltering. Bu, it's not all injuries, coaching definitely shoulders some of the blame from Sunday night. The scheduling and field also didn't do the team any favors, but now I'm just looking for excuses and have gone completely off topic.

Let's just move on to the rankings, shall we?

Author's note: Apologies this is a couple day late, I've been in training at work all week. These were all compiled before the Bears/Giants game last night. Normally I work from home, but I've had to commute the two hours into the office and two hours back home each day, so I haven't had nearly as much time to work on this post as I normally do. But I'm back home now.

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking AFC West 12.8295 NFC West 14.1705 NFC North 14.2045 AFC East 15.4205 AFC North 16.4432 AFC South 17.3182 NFC South 18.6477 NFC East 22.9659

The AFC West actually climbed a tiny bit again this week. Yes the Chargers fell, but everyone else in the division rose.

Stock Rising

Team Week 5 Average Week 6 Average Difference CIN 16.063 10.442 5.621 SF 13.042 7.767 5.275 GB 13.979 8.900 5.079 OAK 29.083 24.508 4.575 ARI 22.625 18.917 3.708

Stock Falling

Team Week 5 Average Week 6 Average Difference HOU 12.063 18.517 -6.454 CAR 15.542 21.650 -6.108 SDG 15.083 21.150 -6.067 ATL 17.083 22.075 -4.992 BUF 17.646 22.433 -4.787

Subjective Average

Subjective Broncos 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1.083 0.000 Saints 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1.917 1.416 Seahawks 5 3 5 4 5 4 5 3 3 3 3 3 3.833 -1.916 Chiefs 3 4 3 5 3 5 3 4 5 4 4 4 3.917 1.500 Colts 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 5 8 4.500 2.750 Patriots 6 6 6 7 7 6 6 7 7 7 7 6 6.500 -2.833 49ers 7 7 7 6 6 8 7 6 9 6 6 7 6.833 1.500 Packers 11 8 10 8 8 9 9 8 10 8 8 5 8.500 2.583 Bengals 8 10 8 9 9 14 8 10 6 9 9 9 9.083 2.917 Ravens 9 13 9 10 10 7 12 9 8 11 10 12 10.000 3.333 Bears 10 11 13 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 12 10 11.000 -2.917 Lions 12 9 12 12 12 10 10 12 15 13 11 13 11.750 -2.500 Dolphins 13 15 11 13 13 12 13 16 13 12 13 14 13.167 -3.084 Cowboys 15 12 16 14 16 21 16 13 14 14 14 11 14.667 1.916 Titans 14 14 14 15 15 15 14 17 16 16 15 15 15.000 -1.333 Texans 17 16 17 18 18 23 17 14 12 15 19 16 16.833 -3.833 Browns 16 17 19 17 17 13 18 15 19 17 16 19 16.917 2.416 Jets 18 18 15 19 14 16 15 18 17 18 17 20 17.083 6.417 Cardinals 19 19 18 16 19 17 21 22 21 20 18 22 19.333 2.917 Chargers 20 20 25 23 24 19 20 19 20 19 20 17 20.500 -4.083 Falcons 22 21 21 24 25 27 22 21 18 21 21 18 21.750 -3.833 Eagles 21 22 20 21 26 20 23 20 23 22 22 21 21.750 2.250 Raiders 24 26 24 22 23 18 19 23 28 24 24 26 23.417 5.750 Rams 25 27 22 20 21 22 24 24 24 26 25 27 23.917 1.250 Bills 23 23 26 27 27 24 25 25 25 23 23 25 24.667 -4.500 Vikings 28 24 23 26 20 26 28 28 22 28 27 24 25.333 -0.583 Redskins 27 25 27 25 22 28 27 26 27 27 26 29 26.333 -0.916 Panthers 26 28 28 28 28 25 26 27 26 25 28 23 26.500 -5.417 Steelers 29 29 29 29 29 29 30 29 29 29 29 28 29.000 0.000 Buccaneers 30 31 31 30 30 30 29 30 31 31 30 31 30.333 0.084 Giants 31 30 30 31 31 31 31 32 30 30 31 30 30.667 -1.334 Jaguars 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 31.917 0.083

Observations:

Sigh ... SportingNews again throws a wrench in things. Not only do they not have the Broncos as 1st like literally everyone else, but they also don't have Jacksonville at 32nd like literally everyone else. We crave order here!

NFC teams in the bottom 12 outnumber AFC teams by a margin of 2-to-1 (8 vs 4).

Reddit, AP and PFF all follow the average relatively closely (as expected)

As weird as SN is for having inconsistent top and bottom, PFT is the one truly all over the map.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Jaguars 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 0.276 0.276 Saints 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 0.276 -0.195 Broncos 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0.276 0.000 Steelers 29 29 29 29 29 29 30 29 29 29 29 28 0.408 -0.169 Patriots 6 6 6 7 7 6 6 7 7 7 7 6 0.500 0.029 Buccaneers 30 31 31 30 30 30 29 30 31 31 30 31 0.624 -0.330 Giants 31 30 30 31 31 31 31 32 30 30 31 30 0.624 -0.482 Chiefs 3 4 3 5 3 5 3 4 5 4 4 4 0.759 -0.103 Bears 10 11 13 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 12 10 0.817 -0.565 Seahawks 5 3 5 4 5 4 5 3 3 3 3 3 0.898 0.622 49ers 7 7 7 6 6 8 7 6 9 6 6 7 0.898 -1.387 Titans 14 14 14 15 15 15 14 17 16 16 15 15 0.913 -1.372 Colts 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 5 8 1.258 -0.381 Dolphins 13 15 11 13 13 12 13 16 13 12 13 14 1.280 -1.117 Bills 23 23 26 27 27 24 25 25 25 23 23 25 1.434 -0.905 Packers 11 8 10 8 8 9 9 8 10 8 8 5 1.443 -1.279 Lions 12 9 12 12 12 10 10 12 15 13 11 13 1.534 -0.669 Panthers 26 28 28 28 28 25 26 27 26 25 28 23 1.555 -0.151 Eagles 21 22 20 21 26 20 23 20 23 22 22 21 1.639 -0.482 Ravens 9 13 9 10 10 7 12 9 8 11 10 12 1.683 -0.451 Redskins 27 25 27 25 22 28 27 26 27 27 26 29 1.700 0.380 Browns 16 17 19 17 17 13 18 15 19 17 16 19 1.706 -0.180 Jets 18 18 15 19 14 16 15 18 17 18 17 20 1.706 -0.726 Bengals 8 10 8 9 9 14 8 10 6 9 9 9 1.801 -0.649 Cardinals 19 19 18 16 19 17 21 22 21 20 18 22 1.841 -0.285 Rams 25 27 22 20 21 22 24 24 24 26 25 27 2.178 0.553 Chargers 20 20 25 23 24 19 20 19 20 19 20 17 2.217 1.263 Cowboys 15 12 16 14 16 21 16 13 14 14 14 11 2.427 -0.072 Falcons 22 21 21 24 25 27 22 21 18 21 21 18 2.488 0.883 Vikings 28 24 23 26 20 26 28 28 22 28 27 24 2.593 0.717 Texans 17 16 17 18 18 23 17 14 12 15 19 16 2.609 0.228 Raiders 24 26 24 22 23 18 19 23 28 24 24 26 2.691 1.411

Observations:

Take out Sporting News, and the Broncos, Jaguars and Saints are all unanimous picks at 1, 2 and 32 respectively.

Steelers almost a unanimous 29th as well

Kind of a cluster of teams in the "just who are you?" group, from the Rams on down.

Raiders looked bad to start the season, then they looked good in a game no one saw, and now who knows?

Objective Average

Objective Broncos 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 5 1 3 1.800 0.825 Saints 5 6 1 2 3 7 2 4 2 1 3.300 0.075 Seahawks 2 2 5 3 6 3 4 3 3 2 3.300 -0.925 Colts 4 3 4 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 4.000 1.875 Chiefs 3 9 3 8 8 1 5 1 5 7 5.000 1.375 49ers 8 7 9 7 9 13 9 10 9 6 8.700 9.050 Packers 6 5 12 4 14 17 7 9 10 9 9.300 7.575 Patriots 12 22 8 5 12 8 10 7 7 4 9.500 -3.250 Bengals 9 10 11 10 10 19 16 12 11 10 11.800 8.325 Lions 14 8 13 13 17 9 12 8 12 13 11.900 1.225 Ravens 18 30 6 9 2 18 8 15 6 8 12.000 2.625 Dolphins 25 23 7 12 4 15 6 19 8 11 13.000 -3.375 Bears 7 15 18 14 18 6 18 14 14 12 13.600 2.900 Titans 16 16 17 16 16 10 15 6 16 16 14.400 -5.775 Browns 23 19 10 15 7 16 13 16 13 14 14.600 2.775 Panthers 10 17 23 22 26 5 11 13 24 17 16.800 -6.800 Cowboys 13 12 20 11 28 21 14 11 19 20 16.900 0.100 Cardinals 24 24 14 19 11 22 17 24 15 15 18.500 4.500 Eagles 21 4 22 23 13 12 25 17 22 26 18.500 3.750 Jets 15 11 15 25 19 20 23 28 18 19 19.300 -0.425 Texans 27 13 19 21 15 24 27 21 17 18 20.200 -9.075 Bills 11 27 16 26 23 11 21 22 21 24 20.200 -5.075 Chargers 19 14 21 20 27 27 19 26 20 25 21.800 -8.050 Vikings 17 21 24 18 25 25 26 23 23 21 22.300 1.825 Falcons 20 25 26 17 21 28 20 18 26 23 22.400 -6.150 Redskins 28 26 25 24 20 23 28 25 27 22 24.800 1.700 Buccaneers 22 29 28 27 22 14 24 27 28 29 25.000 -1.500 Raiders 29 28 27 28 24 26 22 20 25 27 25.600 3.400 Steelers 26 20 30 29 29 30 29 30 30 30 28.300 0.575 Rams 30 31 29 30 30 29 30 29 29 28 29.500 -1.375 Giants 31 18 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 29.800 -2.550 Jaguars 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 31.900 -0.150

Observations:

Using the DVOA rating for Football Outsiders, and the Weighted ranking on BeatGraphs.

The top 5 teams are all clustered together, indicating they're definitely above the rest.

Team Rankings thinks the Giants are worse than the Jaguars. Wonder if that'll actually prove true in any situation.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Jaguars 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.300 -0.133 Rams 30 31 29 30 30 29 30 29 29 28 0.806 -4.079 Colts 4 3 4 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 1.095 0.042 Broncos 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 5 1 3 1.249 -2.065 Seahawks 2 2 5 3 6 3 4 3 3 2 1.269 0.412 49ers 8 7 9 7 9 13 9 10 9 6 1.847 -2.837 Saints 5 6 1 2 3 7 2 4 2 1 2.003 0.508 Redskins 28 26 25 24 20 23 28 25 27 22 2.482 0.137 Lions 14 8 13 13 17 9 12 8 12 13 2.700 -2.361 Raiders 29 28 27 28 24 26 22 20 25 27 2.728 1.228 Chiefs 3 9 3 8 8 1 5 1 5 7 2.793 -0.077 Vikings 17 21 24 18 25 25 26 23 23 21 2.865 0.343 Steelers 26 20 30 29 29 30 29 30 30 30 3.002 0.530 Bengals 9 10 11 10 10 19 16 12 11 10 3.027 0.223 Titans 16 16 17 16 16 10 15 6 16 16 3.353 1.858 Falcons 20 25 26 17 21 28 20 18 26 23 3.555 -1.182 Packers 6 5 12 4 14 17 7 9 10 9 3.900 -2.531 Giants 31 18 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 3.945 -0.435 Bears 7 15 18 14 18 6 18 14 14 12 4.055 -2.522 Chargers 19 14 21 20 27 27 19 26 20 25 4.069 0.917 Browns 23 19 10 15 7 16 13 16 13 14 4.224 0.762 Buccaneers 22 29 28 27 22 14 24 27 28 29 4.450 0.513 Texans 27 13 19 21 15 24 27 21 17 18 4.512 0.756 Cardinals 24 24 14 19 11 22 17 24 15 15 4.544 1.805 Jets 15 11 15 25 19 20 23 28 18 19 4.797 0.878 Patriots 12 22 8 5 12 8 10 7 7 4 4.863 1.163 Cowboys 13 12 20 11 28 21 14 11 19 20 5.300 2.060 Bills 11 27 16 26 23 11 21 22 21 24 5.419 1.283 Eagles 21 4 22 23 13 12 25 17 22 26 6.592 -0.314 Panthers 10 17 23 22 26 5 11 13 24 17 6.600 1.146 Dolphins 25 23 7 12 4 15 6 19 8 11 6.928 1.638 Ravens 18 30 6 9 2 18 8 15 6 8 7.861 -0.460

Observations:

Ravens run the gamut from 2nd all the way down to 30th, with several stops in between.

Dolphins, Panthers and Eagles are also very inconsistent.

Remember me pointing out the pundits were a little too optimistic about the Rams to start the season? St. Louis is a pretty consistent 29th-30th in the Objective Rankings now

If it weren't for Team Efficiency, the Steelers and Giants would be very consistent at the bottom of the pile.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Broncos 1.083 1.800 1.442 0.412 Saints 1.917 3.300 2.608 0.746 Seahawks 3.833 3.300 3.567 -1.421 Colts 4.500 4.000 4.250 2.313 Chiefs 3.917 5.000 4.458 1.438 49ers 6.833 8.700 7.767 5.275 Patriots 6.500 9.500 8.000 -3.042 Packers 8.500 9.300 8.900 5.079 Bengals 9.083 11.800 10.442 5.621 Ravens 10.000 12.000 11.000 2.979 Lions 11.750 11.900 11.825 -0.637 Bears 11.000 13.600 12.300 -0.008 Dolphins 13.167 13.000 13.083 -3.229 Titans 15.000 14.400 14.700 -3.554 Browns 16.917 14.600 15.758 2.596 Cowboys 14.667 16.900 15.783 1.009 Jets 17.083 19.300 18.192 2.996 Texans 16.833 20.200 18.517 -6.454 Cardinals 19.333 18.500 18.917 3.708 Eagles 21.750 18.500 20.125 3.000 Chargers 20.500 21.800 21.150 -6.067 Panthers 26.500 16.800 21.650 -6.108 Falcons 21.750 22.400 22.075 -4.992 Bills 24.667 20.200 22.433 -4.787 Vikings 25.333 22.300 23.817 0.621 Raiders 23.417 25.600 24.508 4.575 Redskins 26.333 24.800 25.567 0.391 Rams 23.917 29.500 26.708 -0.062 Buccaneers 30.333 25.000 27.667 -0.709 Steelers 29.000 28.300 28.650 0.288 Giants 30.667 29.800 30.233 -1.941 Jaguars 31.917 31.900 31.908 -0.033

Observations:

Again, in the overall rankings, there's a sharp delineation from the top-5 group and the rest.

The Broncos continue to go up in the rankings. Who knew that was possible.

Dallas may have lost, but they put up 48 points against Denver and nearly knocked them off. So naturally, they can climb in the rankings.

There's a sharp line again separating the top (Cowboys) and bottom (Jets) halves of the league.

AFC barely outnumbers the NFC in the top half of the league (9-7)

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Jaguars 31.917 31.900 0.288 -0.012 Broncos 1.083 1.800 0.937 -1.301 Seahawks 3.833 3.300 1.114 0.489 Colts 4.500 4.000 1.213 -0.371 Saints 1.917 3.300 1.529 0.515 49ers 6.833 8.700 1.689 -4.072 Chiefs 3.917 5.000 2.037 0.047 Steelers 29.000 28.300 2.076 0.449 Lions 11.750 11.900 2.146 -1.948 Redskins 26.333 24.800 2.227 0.349 Titans 15.000 14.400 2.378 -0.804 Giants 30.667 29.800 2.733 -0.341 Bengals 9.083 11.800 2.786 -1.967 Packers 8.500 9.300 2.865 -2.524 Raiders 23.417 25.600 2.918 1.543 Falcons 21.750 22.400 3.037 -0.308 Bears 11.000 13.600 3.084 -2.870 Vikings 25.333 22.300 3.111 0.932 Rams 23.917 29.500 3.258 -0.379 Chargers 20.500 21.800 3.260 0.764 Browns 16.917 14.600 3.321 0.520 Cardinals 19.333 18.500 3.377 0.959 Patriots 6.500 9.500 3.622 0.937 Jets 17.083 19.300 3.642 -0.209 Texans 16.833 20.200 3.972 0.828 Buccaneers 30.333 25.000 4.033 -0.236 Cowboys 14.667 16.900 4.149 1.323 Bills 24.667 20.200 4.406 0.378 Dolphins 13.167 13.000 4.766 0.933 Eagles 21.750 18.500 4.882 0.137 Ravens 10.000 12.000 5.534 -0.018 Panthers 26.500 16.800 6.667 0.100

Observations:

I'll only say one thing: if a team's subjective and objective rankings are far apart, they naturally will have a high standard deviation. When their rankings are within about 1-2 spots of each other, and they have a standard deviation higher than 1, you know they're inconsistent. IN this camp: Chargers, Dolphins, Ravens.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Rams 23.917 29.500 5.583 2.625 Texans 16.833 20.200 3.367 5.242 Patriots 6.500 9.500 3.000 0.417 Bengals 9.083 11.800 2.717 -5.408 Bears 11.000 13.600 2.600 -5.817 Cowboys 14.667 16.900 2.233 1.816 Jets 17.083 19.300 2.217 6.842 Raiders 23.417 25.600 2.183 2.350 Ravens 10.000 12.000 2.000 0.708 49ers 6.833 8.700 1.867 -7.550 Saints 1.917 3.300 1.383 1.341 Chargers 20.500 21.800 1.300 3.967 Chiefs 3.917 5.000 1.083 0.125 Packers 8.500 9.300 0.800 -4.992 Broncos 1.083 1.800 0.717 -0.825 Falcons 21.750 22.400 0.650 2.317 Lions 11.750 11.900 0.150 -3.725 Jaguars 31.917 31.900 -0.017 0.233 Dolphins 13.167 13.000 -0.167 0.291 Colts 4.500 4.000 -0.500 0.875 Seahawks 3.833 3.300 -0.533 -0.991 Titans 15.000 14.400 -0.600 4.442 Steelers 29.000 28.300 -0.700 -0.575 Cardinals 19.333 18.500 -0.833 -1.583 Giants 30.667 29.800 -0.867 1.216 Redskins 26.333 24.800 -1.533 -2.616 Browns 16.917 14.600 -2.317 -0.359 Vikings 25.333 22.300 -3.033 -2.408 Eagles 21.750 18.500 -3.250 -1.500 Bills 24.667 20.200 -4.467 0.575 Buccaneers 30.333 25.000 -5.333 1.584 Panthers 26.500 16.800 -9.700 1.383

Observations:

The Panthers were the most "under-ranked" last week. I expected them to go up, not down.

All but 6 teams are within 3 spots of their Subjective and Objective averages.

Sources