After another two-week hiatus, everyone's favorite power rankings breakdown is back, with a belly full of turkey and sweet potatoes.

The Patriots lost their first game of the season, dashing everyone's hopes of an 18-0 v 18-0 Super Bowl. As such, this leaves the Carolina Panthers as the sole undefeated team left in the league. Clearly, that means they're the best time, right? The pundits all seem to think so, as the Panthers are now the unanimous top team in the subjective rankings list.

Do they belong there? Are they the best team in the league? maybe not, depending on whom you ask. 538 sports points out that this is the worst 11-0 team the league has seen based on Elo Points. And some "objective" rankings have the Panthers as low as 8th. Does this make them the worst team in the league? Hardly. Just means they might not be the best this year.

But one thing worth pointing out, the "objective" rankings tend to be a little slow to react to recent trends. So the Panthers very well could be the best team in the league right now, they just haven't played like the best team this season.

Notable Quotes

Melvin Gordon has 170 touches, zero touchdowns. The rookie scores less than Poindexter in "Revenge of the Nerds." - NFL.com

The Chargers can win games this season only when they score 30. They're 3-0 when scoring 30 or more points and 0-8 when scoring fewer than 30. - ESPN

The Chargers are so bad that beating the Jaguars is actually an upset. - ProFootballTalk

Division Averages

Division Week 11 Average Week 13 Average Difference NFC North 15.793 13.000 2.793 AFC East 10.293 13.283 -2.990 AFC West 15.696 13.685 2.011 NFC West 15.380 15.728 -0.348 AFC North 16.620 16.609 0.011 NFC South 16.022 16.957 -0.935 AFC South 23.641 21.087 2.554 NFC East 18.554 21.652 -3.098

Stock Rising

Team Week 11 Average Week 13 Average Difference DET 28.348 20.530 7.818 HOU 20.742 13.307 7.435 KC 11.576 7.360 4.216 TB 24.875 21.068 3.807 CHI 19.557 15.807 3.750

Stock Falling

Team Week 11 Average Week 13 Average Difference PHI 15.545 23.920 -8.375 ATL 12.087 17.841 -5.754 MIA 18.962 24.277 -5.315 STL 18.735 22.917 -4.182 NYG 13.595 17.750 -4.155

Subjective Average

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit PFF AP Average Change in Value Panthers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.917 Patriots 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 2.250 -1.167 Cardinals 4 3 3 4 4 5 3 4 5 2 4 3 3.667 -0.250 Broncos 3 5 5 3 5 2 5 3 2 5 5 4 3.917 3.000 Bengals 5 4 4 5 3 4 4 5 4 4 3 5 4.167 -0.250 Vikings 6 6 6 7 7 6 7 6 7 6 6 6 6.333 -1.583 Seahawks 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 13 7 8.083 4.750 Packers 8 10 7 6 12 7 6 8 10 8 7 9 8.167 -0.334 Chiefs 10 7 11 10 6 9 10 10 6 10 12 8 9.083 6.250 Steelers 9 11 9 9 9 10 9 11 9 9 11 10 9.667 -2.084 Texans 11 9 12 11 11 12 11 12 12 13 9 12 11.250 9.417 Colts 14 12 10 17 10 11 12 9 13 12 16 11 12.250 5.000 Jets 12 13 13 16 15 15 14 13 11 11 18 13 13.667 -1.334 Bills 19 17 19 14 13 14 13 16 15 14 15 16 15.417 -5.750 Bears 20 15 14 21 14 16 15 17 14 15 19 15 16.250 1.500 Redskins 13 14 15 12 16 17 19 19 17 18 24 14 16.500 2.667 Raiders 16 23 18 15 17 13 17 18 16 19 10 17 16.583 -2.250 Giants 18 16 17 13 19 18 16 15 18 17 25 18 17.500 -4.583 Falcons 15 19 16 19 23 19 21 14 21 16 8 19 17.500 -7.417 Buccaneers 17 18 20 18 18 20 18 20 19 20 26 20 19.500 3.250 Lions 21 20 21 20 21 21 20 22 20 21 28 21 21.333 7.000 Rams 26 22 23 25 20 23 30 26 23 23 22 23 23.833 -6.000 Dolphins 23 29 24 24 25 24 22 21 22 22 27 24 23.917 -5.084 Eagles 24 30 25 27 30 26 24 23 25 24 17 22 24.750 -5.750 Saints 22 32 26 28 24 27 23 27 24 25 20 27 25.417 -2.000 Ravens 25 27 30 31 28 22 25 25 28 27 14 25 25.583 2.000 Cowboys 29 21 22 30 22 30 26 28 26 28 21 26 25.750 1.750 Jaguars 28 28 28 23 27 25 29 24 30 26 23 29 26.667 -0.584 Chargers 27 25 27 22 26 28 27 29 29 29 32 28 27.417 1.333 49ers 31 24 29 29 29 29 28 30 27 30 31 30 28.917 -1.667 Titans 30 26 31 26 31 31 31 31 31 32 30 31 30.083 -0.583 Browns 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 29 32 31.583 -0.166

Observations:

Guess the pundits aren't too concerned about the Broncos' loss of Peyton Manning.

If the Panthers and Bengals meet in this years Super Bowl, will they bill it as the "Kitty Bowl" to compete with the "Puppy Bowl"?

I had been saying for weeks that people were sleeping on the Seahawks, and they were just waiting to breakout.

On the flipside, I had been saying people were sleeping on the Eagles. Way to prove me wrong, Chip!

Chargers the 4th-worst team in the league? Eh, I'll allow it.

AFC bookends the rankings, with the NFC mostly making up the middle.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit PFF AP STD DEV Change in Value Panthers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.276 Patriots 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 0.433 0.157 Vikings 6 6 6 7 7 6 7 6 7 6 6 6 0.471 -0.251 Bengals 5 4 4 5 3 4 4 5 4 4 3 5 0.687 -0.072 Cardinals 4 3 3 4 4 5 3 4 5 2 4 3 0.850 0.357 Steelers 9 11 9 9 9 10 9 11 9 9 11 10 0.850 -0.755 Browns 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 29 32 0.862 -0.253 Texans 11 9 12 11 11 12 11 12 12 13 9 12 1.164 -1.228 Broncos 3 5 5 3 5 2 5 3 2 5 5 4 1.187 0.149 Seahawks 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 13 7 1.552 -0.715 Packers 8 10 7 6 12 7 6 8 10 8 7 9 1.724 0.206 Chiefs 10 7 11 10 6 9 10 10 6 10 12 8 1.847 -2.097 49ers 31 24 29 29 29 29 28 30 27 30 31 30 1.847 -0.503 Titans 30 26 31 26 31 31 31 31 31 32 30 31 1.891 -0.088 Jets 12 13 13 16 15 15 14 13 11 11 18 13 1.972 0.272 Bills 19 17 19 14 13 14 13 16 15 14 15 16 1.977 0.431 Lions 21 20 21 20 21 21 20 22 20 21 28 21 2.095 0.209 Dolphins 23 29 24 24 25 24 22 21 22 22 27 24 2.178 -0.161 Buccaneers 17 18 20 18 18 20 18 20 19 20 26 20 2.217 0.171 Colts 14 12 10 17 10 11 12 9 13 12 16 11 2.314 -0.489 Jaguars 28 28 28 23 27 25 29 24 30 26 23 29 2.321 1.001 Bears 20 15 14 21 14 16 15 17 14 15 19 15 2.350 -0.171 Chargers 27 25 27 22 26 28 27 29 29 29 32 28 2.361 0.120 Rams 26 22 23 25 20 23 30 26 23 23 22 23 2.478 -0.653 Giants 18 16 17 13 19 18 16 15 18 17 25 18 2.754 -0.472 Saints 22 32 26 28 24 27 23 27 24 25 20 27 3.013 1.259 Raiders 16 23 18 15 17 13 17 18 16 19 10 17 3.040 0.202 Redskins 13 14 15 12 16 17 19 19 17 18 24 14 3.149 0.296 Cowboys 29 21 22 30 22 30 26 28 26 28 21 26 3.295 1.358 Eagles 24 30 25 27 30 26 24 23 25 24 17 22 3.345 0.054 Falcons 15 19 16 19 23 19 21 14 21 16 8 19 3.841 0.884 Ravens 25 27 30 31 28 22 25 25 28 27 14 25 4.212 -0.194

Observations:

The top 6 is pretty well set, excepting the Broncos.

6 of the 9 most consistently-ranked teams are AFC. 8 of the 11 least consistently-ranked teams are NFC.

PFF, yet again, woof. The Falcons 8th? Honestly? Raiders 10th? Ravens 14th? Okay that last one I can almost believe.

Objective Average

Objective FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 FPI Average Change in Value Patriots 5 1 1 9 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 2.364 -1.364 Panthers 3 8 5 2 1 5 4 1 2 2 3 3.273 0.909 Bengals 2 3 2 6 4 2 2 4 3 6 4 3.455 -0.182 Cardinals 6 7 3 3 5 3 3 5 5 3 2 4.091 0.182 Broncos 7 2 4 1 8 6 8 3 4 4 9 5.091 2.182 Chiefs 1 5 6 10 7 4 5 6 6 7 5 5.636 2.182 Seahawks 4 4 8 7 6 9 7 9 9 5 6 6.727 2.546 Packers 9 6 7 4 10 7 10 8 7 8 8 7.636 0.000 Vikings 11 10 10 5 9 10 9 7 8 9 13 9.182 1.545 Steelers 8 9 9 12 11 8 13 10 10 10 7 9.727 -1.909 Jets 10 13 13 16 2 12 6 16 13 17 10 11.636 -1.636 Bills 13 12 11 11 14 11 11 15 12 13 11 12.182 -1.909 Bears 14 23 15 8 21 13 17 11 11 19 17 15.364 6.000 Texans 20 17 14 22 12 15 16 12 15 12 14 15.364 5.454 Colts 19 11 12 18 23 16 22 13 14 11 12 15.546 2.363 Raiders 12 25 20 14 15 14 14 17 17 24 21 17.546 2.545 Ravens 17 14 17 20 22 17 20 20 20 14 16 17.909 3.273 Giants 21 15 16 15 20 18 18 21 19 15 20 18.000 -3.727 Falcons 25 20 19 19 13 20 12 18 16 20 18 18.182 -4.091 Lions 18 22 18 13 27 21 28 14 18 16 22 19.727 8.637 Redskins 15 26 23 25 17 22 19 23 22 22 26 21.818 -2.727 Rams 22 18 21 26 19 19 21 19 21 26 30 22.000 -2.364 Buccaneers 16 28 27 27 16 25 15 22 23 25 25 22.636 4.364 Eagles 24 16 22 29 28 24 23 27 25 21 15 23.091 -11.000 Chargers 27 24 26 21 18 23 26 24 24 27 24 24.000 0.818 Dolphins 23 19 25 24 29 26 25 26 27 28 19 24.636 -5.545 Cowboys 29 21 24 32 24 28 27 30 30 18 23 26.000 -2.000 Jaguars 26 31 30 23 30 27 30 25 26 31 28 27.909 -0.182 49ers 32 29 29 17 32 30 31 28 29 23 32 28.364 0.182 Saints 31 27 28 31 26 32 24 29 28 29 29 28.546 -3.273 Titans 28 32 32 30 25 31 29 32 32 32 27 30.000 -0.727 Browns 30 30 31 28 31 29 32 31 31 30 31 30.364 -0.546

Observations:

Despite the loss, Patriots remain on the top of the list.

Panthers in second, but only 2 votes for 1st place.

Chiefs at the top of the Weighted DVOA list this week.

Aikman's formula is still in love with the Jets.

Lions and Texans and Bears, oh my. All three teams are surging, jumping 8.6, 6, and 5.4 spots the last two weeks, respectively.

Eagles dropping 11 spots in the last two weeks, making me look foolish.

Top half of the league is split 10-6 in favor of the AFC. The opposite is true in the bottom half.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 FPI STD DEV Change in Value Browns 30 30 31 28 31 29 32 31 31 30 31 1.068 -0.924 Bills 13 12 11 11 14 11 11 15 12 13 11 1.336 -0.668 Bengals 2 3 2 6 4 2 2 4 3 6 4 1.437 0.385 Cardinals 6 7 3 3 5 3 3 5 5 3 2 1.505 -3.207 Packers 9 6 7 4 10 7 10 8 7 8 8 1.666 -0.478 Steelers 8 9 9 12 11 8 13 10 10 10 7 1.710 -0.039 Seahawks 4 4 8 7 6 9 7 9 9 5 6 1.814 -2.557 Vikings 11 10 10 5 9 10 9 7 8 9 13 1.992 -1.368 Panthers 3 8 5 2 1 5 4 1 2 2 3 2.004 0.255 Chiefs 1 5 6 10 7 4 5 6 6 7 5 2.101 0.301 Saints 31 27 28 31 26 32 24 29 28 29 29 2.231 -0.222 Giants 21 15 16 15 20 18 18 21 19 15 20 2.296 -1.037 Titans 28 32 32 30 25 31 29 32 32 32 27 2.336 0.036 Patriots 5 1 1 9 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 2.422 2.422 Ravens 17 14 17 20 22 17 20 20 20 14 16 2.539 -2.187 Broncos 7 2 4 1 8 6 8 3 4 4 9 2.539 -1.253 Chargers 27 24 26 21 18 23 26 24 24 27 24 2.558 -0.541 Jaguars 26 31 30 23 30 27 30 25 26 31 28 2.575 0.617 Dolphins 23 19 25 24 29 26 25 26 27 28 19 3.112 -0.713 Texans 20 17 14 22 12 15 16 12 15 12 14 3.112 -0.268 Redskins 15 26 23 25 17 22 19 23 22 22 26 3.380 -0.999 Falcons 25 20 19 19 13 20 12 18 16 20 18 3.406 0.469 Rams 22 18 21 26 19 19 21 19 21 26 30 3.593 -0.180 Cowboys 29 21 24 32 24 28 27 30 30 18 23 4.134 -1.018 Raiders 12 25 20 14 15 14 14 17 17 24 21 4.164 0.560 Colts 19 11 12 18 23 16 22 13 14 11 12 4.164 0.339 Eagles 24 16 22 29 28 24 23 27 25 21 15 4.274 1.275 Jets 10 13 13 16 2 12 6 16 13 17 10 4.291 0.091 Bears 14 23 15 8 21 13 17 11 11 19 17 4.354 2.482 49ers 32 29 29 17 32 30 31 28 29 23 32 4.354 0.777 Buccaneers 16 28 27 27 16 25 15 22 23 25 25 4.578 1.036 Lions 18 22 18 13 27 21 28 14 18 16 22 4.614 1.976

Observations:

Funny how there's greater consensus of the Bills ~12th than the Patriots or Panthers.

For consistency, it seems the Objective list is the opposite of the Subjective list with the NFC teams bookmarking the rankings and the AFC teams filling out the middle.

17 teams saw consistency improve, 15 got worse.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Average Change in Value Panthers 1.000 3.273 2.136 0.913 Patriots 2.250 2.364 2.307 -1.265 Bengals 4.167 3.455 3.811 -0.216 Cardinals 3.667 4.091 3.879 -0.034 Broncos 3.917 5.091 4.504 2.591 Chiefs 9.083 5.636 7.360 4.216 Seahawks 8.083 6.727 7.405 3.648 Vikings 6.333 9.182 7.758 -0.019 Packers 8.167 7.636 7.902 -0.167 Steelers 9.667 9.727 9.697 -1.996 Jets 13.667 11.636 12.652 -1.485 Texans 11.250 15.364 13.307 7.435 Bills 15.417 12.182 13.799 -3.829 Colts 12.250 15.546 13.898 3.682 Bears 16.250 15.364 15.807 3.750 Raiders 16.583 17.546 17.064 0.148 Giants 17.500 18.000 17.750 -4.155 Falcons 17.500 18.182 17.841 -5.754 Redskins 16.500 21.818 19.159 -0.030 Lions 21.333 19.727 20.530 7.818 Buccaneers 19.500 22.636 21.068 3.807 Ravens 25.583 17.909 21.746 2.637 Rams 23.833 22.000 22.917 -4.182 Eagles 24.750 23.091 23.920 -8.375 Dolphins 23.917 24.636 24.277 -5.315 Chargers 27.417 24.000 25.708 1.076 Cowboys 25.750 26.000 25.875 -0.125 Saints 25.417 28.546 26.981 -2.636 Jaguars 26.667 27.909 27.288 -0.383 49ers 28.917 28.364 28.640 -0.742 Titans 30.083 30.000 30.042 -0.656 Browns 31.583 30.364 30.973 -0.356

Observations:

Panthers just edge out the Patriots for the top spot overall, but it's close.

Interesting groupings: Panthers, Patriots; followed by Bengals, Cardinals; then Broncos. Then the next 4 teams.

The Chiefs are doing so well now, was Jamaal Charles holding them back? Was he their crutch and now they've had to find new ways to win?

All that early season hope in St. Louis seems to have faded.

So odd to see the Cowboys, Saints, and 49ers as the 3 worst teams in the NFC.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg STD DEV Change in Value Browns 31.583 30.364 1.142 -0.642 Bengals 4.167 3.455 1.167 0.201 Cardinals 3.667 4.091 1.227 -2.079 Steelers 9.667 9.727 1.333 -0.346 Patriots 2.250 2.364 1.705 1.501 Packers 8.167 7.636 1.717 -0.130 Panthers 1.000 3.273 1.792 0.124 Seahawks 8.083 6.727 1.814 -2.057 Vikings 6.333 9.182 2.009 -1.810 Broncos 3.917 5.091 2.040 -0.693 Titans 30.083 30.000 2.116 -0.026 Bills 15.417 12.182 2.346 0.541 Jaguars 26.667 27.909 2.523 0.674 Giants 17.500 18.000 2.558 -0.789 Chiefs 9.083 5.636 2.618 -2.256 Dolphins 23.917 24.636 2.690 -0.451 Chargers 27.417 24.000 2.992 -0.335 Texans 11.250 15.364 3.092 0.184 Saints 25.417 28.546 3.092 0.781 Rams 23.833 22.000 3.196 -0.372 49ers 28.917 28.364 3.305 0.236 Jets 13.667 11.636 3.444 0.082 Bears 16.250 15.364 3.485 0.613 Lions 21.333 19.727 3.622 1.345 Raiders 16.583 17.546 3.653 -0.670 Falcons 17.500 18.182 3.655 0.092 Colts 12.250 15.546 3.714 0.367 Cowboys 25.750 26.000 3.722 -0.486 Buccaneers 19.500 22.636 3.879 0.316 Eagles 24.750 23.091 3.906 -0.770 Redskins 16.500 21.818 4.206 0.543 Ravens 25.583 17.909 5.200 -0.371





Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Diff. in Avg Change in Value Redskins 16.500 21.818 5.318 5.394 Texans 11.250 15.364 4.114 3.962 Colts 12.250 15.546 3.296 2.637 Buccaneers 19.500 22.636 3.136 -1.114 Saints 25.417 28.546 3.129 1.273 Vikings 6.333 9.182 2.849 -3.128 Panthers 1.000 3.273 2.273 0.008 Jaguars 26.667 27.909 1.242 -0.402 Broncos 3.917 5.091 1.174 0.818 Raiders 16.583 17.546 0.962 -4.796 Dolphins 23.917 24.636 0.720 0.462 Falcons 17.500 18.182 0.682 -3.326 Giants 17.500 18.000 0.500 -0.856 Cardinals 3.667 4.091 0.424 -0.432 Cowboys 25.750 26.000 0.250 3.750 Patriots 2.250 2.364 0.114 0.197 Steelers 9.667 9.727 0.061 -0.174 Titans 30.083 30.000 -0.083 0.144 Packers 8.167 7.636 -0.530 -0.333 49ers 28.917 28.364 -0.553 -1.849 Bengals 4.167 3.455 -0.712 -0.068 Bears 16.250 15.364 -0.886 -4.500 Browns 31.583 30.364 -1.220 0.379 Seahawks 8.083 6.727 -1.356 2.205 Lions 21.333 19.727 -1.606 -1.636 Eagles 24.750 23.091 -1.659 5.250 Rams 23.833 22.000 -1.833 -3.636 Jets 13.667 11.636 -2.030 0.303 Bills 15.417 12.182 -3.235 -3.841 Chargers 27.417 24.000 -3.417 0.515 Chiefs 9.083 5.636 -3.447 4.068 Ravens 25.583 17.909 -7.674 -1.272

Observations:

Ravens continue to be at the bottom of this list, when will the pundits figure out that this is merely a mediocre team and not a bad one?

Chiefs continue to be under-ranked, but it's gotten significantly better. A couple more divisional wins and people might believe again.

Chargers seem to be under-ranked a bit as well, but then again I'd probably put them in the bottom-5 of the league myself.

The 5 most under-ranked teams are in the AFC, is this a case of higher expectations? Or are pundits trying to keep things even?

Sources