The AFC West's dominance over the rest of the league is softening. With the Raiders and Chargers both losing this week, they've fallen in the rankings, bringing the rest of the division down with them. Divisional supremacy is up for grabs again, and the NFC West is making a strong case for them to take over.

Sorry this is a day late. Four of my sources didn't publish rankings in time, and I made the decision to wait for them to catch up because I generally don't like when nearly 20% of my data is missing. Waiting paid off a little: 2 of the sources published their rankings. So we'll go this week without 2 of my normal sources, but that's okay I'm missing one subjective and one objective ranking; it all evens out the, right?

Last week, the AFC West had a comfortable lead over the NFC West. This week, that lead has narrowed considerably. You can thank the Chargers and Raiders, who both fell to NFC East teams, for bringing the Division back down. Speaking of the Chargers, they lost in a frustrating display of poor decisions overall. How has that affected their rankings? Read on to find out.

Notable Quotes

It's doubtful referee Jerome Boger gets holiday card after horrid personal-foul call in OT. - USA Today

Boy, everything came down to that Danny Woodhead play in Washington. Philip Rivers probably had his worst day of the season against the Redskins. Still, it would have helped if offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt had mixed a few more runs in there. Calling 47 pass plays versus 16 running plays? Come on. It's not like the Bolts were down by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. - NFL.com

Philip Rivers keeps churning out the passing yards, and he keeps needing every one of them thanks to the Bolts' shockingly poor secondary. He came up literally one yard short on his swing pass to Danny Woodhead, and settling for a field goal doomed the Chargers to an overtime where they never saw the ball. Keenan Allen is tearing up secondaries and battling Eddie Lacy for Rookie of the Year honors, but San Diego has to get stops to have a shot at a Wild Card. - SB Nation

Division Averages

Division Week 10 Average Week 9 Average Difference AFC West 12.1125 10.2614 -1.8511 NFC West 12.4625 11.8864 -0.5761 NFC North 15.3375 15.3977 0.0602 AFC East 16.2000 17.9886 1.7886 NFC South 17.7250 17.8636 0.1386 AFC North 18.9750 17.6818 -1.2932 AFC South 19.5125 19.5682 0.0557 NFC East 19.6750 21.3523 1.6773

Had the NFC West not fallen a little this week, they would have overtaken the AFC West.

Stock Rising

Team Week 9 Average Week 10 Average Difference PHI 23.383 18.869 4.514 NYJ 22.075 18.636 3.439 NE 10.250 6.889 3.361 CHI 14.792 12.086 2.706 MIA 19.342 16.667 2.675

Stock Falling

Team Week 9 Average Week 10 Average Difference OAK 21.817 26.758 -4.941 BAL 15.917 19.586 -3.669 SDG 12.750 16.237 -3.487 GB 7.050 9.551 -2.501 BUF 20.750 22.889 -2.139

Subjective Average

Subjective Broncos 3 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 1 3 1 2.000 0.417 Chiefs 1 3 1 4 1 2 2 4 2 1 3 2.182 -0.099 Seahawks 4 4 2 2 2 5 1 2 3 2 2 2.636 -0.303 Colts 2 8 6 5 3 3 4 3 4 5 4 4.273 0.644 49ers 5 2 4 3 5 6 5 5 5 4 6 4.546 1.204 Patriots 7 5 5 6 6 4 6 7 7 6 7 6.000 3.000 Saints 6 9 7 7 7 7 7 8 6 7 5 6.909 -3.076 Bengals 8 11 8 10 8 8 9 10 8 8 8 8.727 -1.394 Lions 10 10 9 8 10 10 11 9 9 9 9 9.455 0.545 Panthers 12 7 11 11 11 9 10 6 11 10 11 9.909 2.591 Packers 11 6 13 9 9 12 13 12 10 11 10 10.546 -3.046 Bears 9 12 12 12 13 11 8 15 12 12 13 11.727 2.356 Cowboys 13 13 10 13 12 14 12 16 13 13 12 12.818 -0.651 Jets 14 14 14 15 14 17 14 20 15 14 17 15.273 2.977 Chargers 15 15 17 19 16 13 16 14 14 15 15 15.364 -3.364 Titans 16 16 16 14 18 15 15 18 17 17 16 16.182 1.735 Dolphins 19 18 23 17 15 19 17 11 16 18 14 17.000 1.583 Cardinals 17 22 15 18 17 16 18 19 18 16 20 17.818 -0.568 Browns 18 21 18 21 20 20 20 13 20 20 19 19.091 4.326 Ravens 21 25 19 16 21 18 21 17 19 22 18 19.727 -4.894 Eagles 20 19 21 20 19 21 19 21 21 19 22 20.182 4.485 Redskins 22 17 22 22 22 24 22 22 23 21 25 22.000 2.500 Bills 23 23 25 23 25 22 25 26 22 24 26 24.000 -2.500 Texans 28 24 20 26 29 26 27 23 24 27 21 25.000 -0.167 Raiders 24 27 27 24 23 25 23 25 26 25 28 25.182 -4.349 Giants 29 20 26 27 24 27 24 24 28 23 27 25.364 0.386 Rams 25 28 24 28 26 23 26 27 25 26 29 26.091 -1.258 Falcons 26 26 28 25 27 28 29 29 27 29 24 27.091 -2.091 Steelers 27 30 29 29 28 29 28 28 29 28 23 28.000 -1.083 Vikings 30 29 30 30 31 30 30 31 30 30 30 30.091 -0.091 Buccaneers 31 31 31 31 30 31 31 30 31 31 31 30.818 0.265 Jaguars 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 -0.083

Observations:

Even during their bye, the Broncos rose half a spot to knock the Chiefs off. Are rankers raising the Broncos in honor of John Fox? Are rankers skeptical of the Chiefs? Probably a little of both.

Though the Broncos are the top team, their average is a solid 2.000. So there is no clear top team at the moment. A lot of questions will be answered next Sunday night.

The NFC is starting to assert their seeming dominance again as 8 of the top 13 teams are NFC teams. There's a sharp delineation from the Cowboys to the Jets, so it's safe to consider those the top 13 teams.

Chargers are hanging on in the middle there.

Vikings fans, good news: you're no longer a unanimous pick at 30th. Bad news: you've dropped a little.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Jaguars 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.000 -0.276 Buccaneers 31 31 31 31 30 31 31 30 31 31 31 0.386 0.110 Vikings 30 29 30 30 31 30 30 31 30 30 30 0.514 0.514 Lions 10 10 9 8 10 10 11 9 9 9 9 0.782 0.374 Patriots 7 5 5 6 6 4 6 7 7 6 7 0.954 0.377 Saints 6 9 7 7 7 7 7 8 6 7 5 0.996 0.010 Eagles 20 19 21 20 19 21 19 21 21 19 22 1.029 -1.689 Bengals 8 11 8 10 8 8 9 10 8 8 8 1.052 0.428 Chiefs 1 3 1 4 1 2 2 4 2 1 3 1.113 -0.269 Broncos 3 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 1 3 1 1.128 -0.059 Seahawks 4 4 2 2 2 5 1 2 3 2 2 1.150 0.207 49ers 5 2 4 3 5 6 5 5 5 4 6 1.157 0.724 Titans 16 16 16 14 18 15 15 18 17 17 16 1.192 -0.306 Cowboys 13 13 10 13 12 14 12 16 13 13 12 1.403 0.417 Bills 23 23 25 23 25 22 25 26 22 24 26 1.414 -0.479 Chargers 15 15 17 19 16 13 16 14 14 15 15 1.554 0.329 Raiders 24 27 27 24 23 25 23 25 26 25 28 1.585 -0.926 Colts 2 8 6 5 3 3 4 3 4 5 4 1.601 0.219 Falcons 26 26 28 25 27 28 29 29 27 29 24 1.621 -0.862 Rams 25 28 24 28 26 23 26 27 25 26 29 1.730 -0.573 Steelers 27 30 29 29 28 29 28 28 29 28 23 1.758 -0.639 Panthers 12 7 11 11 11 9 10 6 11 10 11 1.781 0.397 Bears 9 12 12 12 13 11 8 15 12 12 13 1.814 0.316 Jets 14 14 14 15 14 17 14 20 15 14 17 1.863 -1.482 Cardinals 17 22 15 18 17 16 18 19 18 16 20 1.898 0.364 Redskins 22 17 22 22 22 24 22 22 23 21 25 1.907 -0.816 Packers 11 6 13 9 9 12 13 12 10 11 10 1.971 0.713 Browns 18 21 18 21 20 20 20 13 20 20 19 2.151 -1.050 Ravens 21 25 19 16 21 18 21 17 19 22 18 2.453 0.828 Giants 29 20 26 27 24 27 24 24 28 23 27 2.496 0.255 Texans 28 24 20 26 29 26 27 23 24 27 21 2.730 -0.375 Dolphins 19 18 23 17 15 19 17 11 16 18 14 2.954 -0.497

Observations:

Nice to see everyone wised up and put the Jaguars unanimously at the bottom again.

An almost even split of teams that became more or less consistent (15 more consistent, 17 less).

Without USA Today, the Chargers are rather consistent in their rankings at about 15th. Better than I expected of them this year. The rest of the season will be tough though.

Wow, the Dolphins are a mess in the media, and a mess in the rankings: 11th-23rd and everywhere in between.

Objective Average

Objective Seahawks 2 3 2 6 4 3 2 3 1 2.889 -1.089 Broncos 1 2 1 9 2 1 6 1 4 3.000 0.300 Chiefs 9 1 7 8 3 6 3 2 2 4.556 1.344 49ers 6 4 5 7 5 4 5 4 3 4.778 -0.078 Colts 5 5 9 5 6 5 8 5 5 5.889 -0.889 Saints 7 8 3 3 9 7 4 7 6 6.000 0.000 Panthers 3 13 11 19 1 2 1 8 10 7.556 1.144 Patriots 11 7 6 2 7 11 9 10 7 7.778 3.722 Bengals 8 6 10 1 10 9 10 9 8 7.889 -1.189 Packers 10 11 4 10 12 8 7 6 9 8.556 -1.956 Lions 13 9 13 12 8 12 11 12 11 11.222 -1.122 Cowboys 12 12 8 15 13 10 13 11 13 11.889 -0.989 Bears 4 10 12 23 11 13 14 13 12 12.444 3.056 Cardinals 14 15 18 11 16 14 18 14 16 15.111 -0.711 Titans 27 14 17 13 17 15 12 15 14 16.000 0.900 Dolphins 17 19 16 4 21 17 21 17 15 16.333 3.767 Chargers 15 18 15 17 19 18 17 18 17 17.111 -3.611 Eagles 16 21 19 18 14 19 15 16 20 17.556 4.544 Ravens 21 24 14 31 15 16 16 20 18 19.444 -2.444 Browns 22 20 21 20 26 20 20 21 19 21.000 -1.000 Redskins 28 16 22 22 18 22 22 19 21 21.111 2.689 Bills 20 22 26 16 20 21 24 24 23 21.778 -1.778 Jets 19 17 27 14 23 30 23 23 22 22.000 3.900 Falcons 18 29 24 21 31 24 25 29 26 25.222 0.378 Texans 29 26 23 32 25 25 19 25 24 25.333 -2.233 Rams 26 25 29 25 24 23 27 26 25 25.556 -2.056 Giants 30 23 20 26 29 27 31 22 27 26.111 0.489 Buccaneers 23 31 30 27 22 26 26 31 31 27.444 2.556 Steelers 24 27 25 30 30 29 30 28 29 28.000 -3.100 Raiders 31 28 31 24 27 31 28 27 28 28.333 -5.533 Vikings 25 30 28 29 28 28 29 30 30 28.556 0.844 Jaguars 32 32 32 28 32 32 32 32 32 31.556 0.144

Observations:

Seahawks dropped quite a bit objectively this week, but ever so slightly still in first.

Interesting that even though the Seahawks are only ranked 1st in one list, they still have the top spot. Broncos on the other hand have 4 first-place votes.

Chiefs dropped in the Subjective rankings list, but rose in the Objective rankings list. Huh.

Chargers dropped by almost the same amount in both lists.

New Orleans, despite losing to the Jets, didn't move at all on average in the objective list. Jets on the other hand, rose almost 4 spots.

That loss to the Eagles really did a number on the Raiders.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective 49ers 6 4 5 7 5 4 5 4 3 1.133 -0.483 Jaguars 32 32 32 28 32 32 32 32 32 1.257 0.799 Chargers 15 18 15 17 19 18 17 18 17 1.286 0.082 Seahawks 2 3 2 6 4 3 2 3 1 1.370 0.390 Colts 5 5 9 5 6 5 8 5 5 1.449 -0.742 Vikings 25 30 28 29 28 28 29 30 30 1.499 -0.063 Lions 13 9 13 12 8 12 11 12 11 1.618 0.105 Rams 26 25 29 25 24 23 27 26 25 1.641 -1.859 Cowboys 12 12 8 15 13 10 13 11 13 1.912 0.098 Browns 22 20 21 20 26 20 20 21 19 1.944 -0.776 Saints 7 8 3 3 9 7 4 7 6 2.055 0.382 Cardinals 14 15 18 11 16 14 18 14 16 2.079 0.335 Steelers 24 27 25 30 30 29 30 28 29 2.108 -2.026 Raiders 31 28 31 24 27 31 28 27 28 2.211 -0.913 Eagles 16 21 19 18 14 19 15 16 20 2.266 -2.881 Packers 10 11 4 10 12 8 7 6 9 2.409 0.302 Broncos 1 2 1 9 2 1 6 1 4 2.667 0.096 Patriots 11 7 6 2 7 11 9 10 7 2.699 -0.342 Bengals 8 6 10 1 10 9 10 9 8 2.726 -0.174 Bills 20 22 26 16 20 21 24 24 23 2.780 0.134 Chiefs 9 1 7 8 3 6 3 2 2 2.793 -0.320 Redskins 28 16 22 22 18 22 22 19 21 3.178 0.502 Buccaneers 23 31 30 27 22 26 26 31 31 3.304 1.068 Texans 29 26 23 32 25 25 19 25 24 3.432 0.287 Giants 30 23 20 26 29 27 31 22 27 3.542 -1.422 Falcons 18 29 24 21 31 24 25 29 26 3.881 0.382 Titans 27 14 17 13 17 15 12 15 14 4.190 1.346 Jets 19 17 27 14 23 30 23 23 22 4.595 1.580 Bears 4 10 12 23 11 13 14 13 12 4.646 -0.050 Dolphins 17 19 16 4 21 17 21 17 15 4.784 1.278 Ravens 21 24 14 31 15 16 16 20 18 5.080 0.790 Panthers 3 13 11 19 1 2 1 8 10 5.928 0.673

Observations:

49ers the most consistent. Closely followed by the Jags, Chargers and Seahawks.

Actually, speaking of consistency, I'm going to go on a little tangent now. On more than one subjective ranking list this week, the commentary pointed to the Chargers playing "inconsistently." The Chargers are actually playing very consistently this year, consistently average. In Football Outsiders' Variance rating, the Chargers rank 6th. The Chargers are nearly the most consistently-ranked in all the objective lists, which indicates they're playing consistently in all facets of the game. Can we dispel this incorrect perception of the Chargers being inconsistent now? Good.

Baltimore, now there's an inconsistent team. Miami too. And yeah, let's include the Jets in there, you just don't know which team you'll get each week.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Broncos 2.000 3.000 2.500 0.358 Seahawks 2.636 2.889 2.763 -0.696 Chiefs 2.182 4.556 3.369 0.623 49ers 4.546 4.778 4.662 0.563 Colts 4.273 5.889 5.081 -0.123 Saints 6.909 6.000 6.455 -1.538 Patriots 6.000 7.778 6.889 3.361 Bengals 8.727 7.889 8.308 -1.291 Panthers 9.909 7.556 8.732 1.868 Packers 10.546 8.556 9.551 -2.501 Lions 9.455 11.222 10.338 -0.288 Bears 11.727 12.444 12.086 2.706 Cowboys 12.818 11.889 12.354 -0.821 Titans 16.182 16.000 16.091 1.317 Chargers 15.364 17.111 16.237 -3.487 Cardinals 17.818 15.111 16.465 -0.640 Dolphins 17.000 16.333 16.667 2.675 Jets 15.273 22.000 18.636 3.439 Eagles 20.182 17.556 18.869 4.514 Ravens 19.727 19.444 19.586 -3.669 Browns 19.091 21.000 20.045 1.663 Redskins 22.000 21.111 21.556 2.594 Bills 24.000 21.778 22.889 -2.139 Texans 25.000 25.333 25.167 -1.200 Giants 25.364 26.111 25.737 0.438 Rams 26.091 25.556 25.823 -1.656 Falcons 27.091 25.222 26.157 -0.857 Raiders 25.182 28.333 26.758 -4.941 Steelers 28.000 28.000 28.000 -2.092 Buccaneers 30.818 27.444 29.131 1.411 Vikings 30.091 28.556 29.323 0.377 Jaguars 32.000 31.556 31.778 0.030

Observations:

This is about how I'd rank the teams myself. Though I'd probably put the Chiefs down a few spots. Biased? Probably.

Again, 8 of the top 13 teams are NFC Teams. And there's a sharper delineation between the Cowboys and (in this case) the Titans. The top 13 teams are the top teams, with everyone coming in behind.

Cluster of 4 teams with rankings all ~16.

Bottom 10 evenly split 5-5 between NFC and AFC.

NFC East slowly getting climbing out of the ashes.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Jaguars 32.000 31.556 0.872 0.486 49ers 4.546 4.778 1.152 -0.098 Seahawks 2.636 2.889 1.260 0.264 Vikings 30.091 28.556 1.319 0.224 Lions 9.455 11.222 1.512 0.447 Saints 6.909 6.000 1.628 -0.095 Chargers 15.364 17.111 1.682 0.255 Rams 26.091 25.556 1.711 -1.273 Cowboys 12.818 11.889 1.715 0.158 Colts 4.273 5.889 1.732 -0.064 Steelers 28.000 28.000 1.924 -1.527 Bengals 8.727 7.889 2.032 -0.001 Broncos 2.000 3.000 2.037 0.045 Patriots 6.000 7.778 2.135 -0.301 Eagles 20.182 17.556 2.145 -2.063 Browns 19.091 21.000 2.269 -1.173 Chiefs 2.182 4.556 2.364 -0.646 Packers 10.546 8.556 2.393 0.637 Cardinals 17.818 15.111 2.396 0.233 Bills 24.000 21.778 2.408 0.022 Raiders 25.182 28.333 2.458 -0.514 Redskins 22.000 21.111 2.596 -0.128 Buccaneers 30.818 27.444 2.795 1.181 Titans 16.182 16.000 2.948 0.677 Falcons 27.091 25.222 3.015 0.012 Giants 25.364 26.111 3.035 -0.722 Texans 25.000 25.333 3.070 -0.170 Bears 11.727 12.444 3.413 -0.014 Ravens 19.727 19.444 3.865 0.553 Dolphins 17.000 16.333 3.900 0.343 Panthers 9.909 7.556 4.351 0.207 Jets 15.273 22.000 4.755 -0.219

Observations:

7 of the 10 most consistently-ranked teams are NFC teams. Jags, Chargers and Colts are the lone AFC Representatives. You'd think an "inconsistent" team like the Chargers wouldn't be ranked so consistently.

Smooth, almost linear gradation from the Jaguars down to the Texans. Then things escalate quickly.

Bears, Ravens, Dolphins, Panthers and Jets are in a league of their own when it comes to ranking consistency.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Jets 15.273 22.000 6.727 -0.923 Raiders 25.182 28.333 3.152 1.185 Chiefs 2.182 4.556 2.374 -1.443 Browns 19.091 21.000 1.909 5.326 Patriots 6.000 7.778 1.778 -0.722 Lions 9.455 11.222 1.768 1.668 Chargers 15.364 17.111 1.748 0.248 Colts 4.273 5.889 1.616 1.533 Broncos 2.000 3.000 1.000 0.117 Giants 25.364 26.111 0.748 -0.102 Bears 11.727 12.444 0.717 -0.700 Texans 25.000 25.333 0.333 2.066 Seahawks 2.636 2.889 0.253 0.786 49ers 4.546 4.778 0.232 1.282 Steelers 28.000 28.000 0.000 2.017 Titans 16.182 16.000 -0.182 0.835 Ravens 19.727 19.444 -0.283 -2.450 Jaguars 32.000 31.556 -0.444 -0.227 Rams 26.091 25.556 -0.535 0.798 Dolphins 17.000 16.333 -0.667 -2.184 Bengals 8.727 7.889 -0.838 -0.205 Redskins 22.000 21.111 -0.889 -0.189 Saints 6.909 6.000 -0.909 -3.076 Cowboys 12.818 11.889 -0.929 0.338 Vikings 30.091 28.556 -1.535 -0.935 Falcons 27.091 25.222 -1.869 -2.469 Packers 10.546 8.556 -1.990 -1.090 Bills 24.000 21.778 -2.222 -0.722 Panthers 9.909 7.556 -2.354 1.446 Eagles 20.182 17.556 -2.626 -0.059 Cardinals 17.818 15.111 -2.707 0.143 Buccaneers 30.818 27.444 -3.374 -2.291

Observations:

Finally! I've been pointing this out for what seems the entire season, but the subjective rankers have finally wised up and no longer are the Panthers the most under-ranked team. They're still under-ranked, but now they're 4th on that list.

On the whole, the AFC is over-ranked, and NFC under-ranked.

9 of the 14 over-ranked teams are AFC teams. That means 11 of the 17 teams that are considered under-ranked are NFC teams.

"Wait!" you say, "doesn't that only add up to 31 teams?" Good catch, dear reader. That's because the Steelers are ranked exactly 28.000 in both lists. Meaning their rankings are in agreement and there is no under- or over-ranking.

Sources