Our long San Diego nightmare is nearly over! Chargers football returns this week. I don't know about you guys, but this has been one long 10 day stretch.

This week, the Chargers benefited with the bye in two respects: their players are getting rested and healthy, and they actually managed to climb in the subjective rankings by sitting idle. Last week, the Chargers averaged a 6.451, this week they average a 6.000. Not bad.

But as you'll soon find out, not all is well in Chargerville. First some notable quotes this week, then on to the tables!

Notable Quotes

Reddit

Much needed bye came this week. I hope the Chargers rested and got healthy, because this next stretch is nothing like the first 5 weeks.

Sports Illustrated

The Chargers have won the games they were expected to win so far, and that passes as progress in San Diego. But now the degree of difficulty spikes a bit. In their coming four games, the Chargers travel to the Jets and Chiefs, then draw glamor matchups with the Packers and Raiders at home. We'll know where this season is headed in San Diego after that month-long stretch.

Fox Sports

With tight end Antonio Gates dinged up and a beat-up running back corps, the bye week came at the perfect time for this team. They benefit from a couple of losses and move up two spots, but have their work cut out for them with the Jets and Packers on the horizon.

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Patriots 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 3 2.455 0.498 Ravens 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 2 2.546 0.498 49ers 4 5 5 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 5 4.364 0.481 Lions 6 7 6 5 6 5 6 8 5 5 4 5.727 1.052 Chargers 7 4 4 6 7 7 5 7 6 6 7 6.000 1.128 Saints 5 6 12 7 5 9 7 6 8 7 6 7.091 1.929 Steelers 8 8 7 11 8 11 8 4 7 12 8 8.364 2.144 Bills 10 10 11 8 9 13 9 10 11 9 9 9.909 1.311 Giants 11 12 8 9 12 10 12 9 10 10 11 10.364 1.298 Buccaneers 12 9 10 10 11 8 11 13 12 8 12 10.546 1.616 Raiders 9 15 9 14 10 6 10 11 13 11 10 10.727 2.416 Bengals 18 17 17 17 13 12 13 16 9 15 15 14.727 2.597 Texans 17 13 13 12 16 15 15 14 17 20 14 15.091 2.193 Bears 14 16 19 13 18 14 16 19 18 14 13 15.818 2.249 Falcons 19 11 15 19 19 18 17 12 14 16 16 16.000 2.663 Titans 13 20 16 15 14 16 14 18 16 21 18 16.455 2.426 Jets 16 14 20 16 17 19 19 15 20 13 17 16.909 2.275 Redskins 15 19 14 21 15 17 18 21 15 18 20 17.546 2.426 Cowboys 21 21 18 18 20 20 20 20 19 19 21 19.727 1.052 Eagles 20 18 21 20 21 21 21 17 22 17 19 19.727 1.656 Seahawks 22 23 24 23 22 22 23 25 21 22 24 22.818 1.113 Panthers 25 22 22 22 25 23 24 24 25 25 22 23.546 1.305 Browns 23 25 23 25 23 24 22 23 23 26 23 23.636 1.150 Chiefs 24 26 25 24 24 25 25 22 24 28 25 24.727 1.420 Cardinals 26 24 28 27 29 28 26 27 26 23 27 26.455 1.671 Broncos 27 27 29 28 27 26 27 28 28 24 26 27.000 1.279 Vikings 28 29 27 26 28 27 28 26 29 29 29 27.818 1.113 Jaguars 29 28 26 29 26 29 29 31 27 27 28 28.091 1.443 Rams 31 30 30 31 31 31 32 32 30 31 30 30.818 0.716 Colts 32 31 32 30 32 30 30 29 31 32 31 30.909 0.996 Dolphins 30 32 31 32 30 32 31 30 32 30 32 31.091 0.900

Observations:

How many of you put money on the 49ers and Lions being top-5 teams? Hey, liar! Put your hand down.

Chargers had minor variance this week, only ranging from positions 4-7.

Raiders almost broke the top-10.

Philadelphia even climbed a little this week. But, they're still barely above a 20th-ranking, so they're ripe for ridicule. Dream team? *scoff*

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 49ers 4 5 5 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 5 4.364 0.481 Ravens 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 2 2.546 0.498 Patriots 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 3 2.455 0.498 Rams 31 30 30 31 31 31 32 32 30 31 30 30.818 0.716 Dolphins 30 32 31 32 30 32 31 30 32 30 32 31.091 0.900 Colts 32 31 32 30 32 30 30 29 31 32 31 30.909 0.996 Cowboys 21 21 18 18 20 20 20 20 19 19 21 19.727 1.052 Lions 6 7 6 5 6 5 6 8 5 5 4 5.727 1.052 Vikings 28 29 27 26 28 27 28 26 29 29 29 27.818 1.113 Seahawks 22 23 24 23 22 22 23 25 21 22 24 22.818 1.113 Chargers 7 4 4 6 7 7 5 7 6 6 7 6.000 1.128 Browns 23 25 23 25 23 24 22 23 23 26 23 23.636 1.150 Broncos 27 27 29 28 27 26 27 28 28 24 26 27.000 1.279 Giants 11 12 8 9 12 10 12 9 10 10 11 10.364 1.298 Panthers 25 22 22 22 25 23 24 24 25 25 22 23.546 1.305 Bills 10 10 11 8 9 13 9 10 11 9 9 9.909 1.311 Chiefs 24 26 25 24 24 25 25 22 24 28 25 24.727 1.420 Jaguars 29 28 26 29 26 29 29 31 27 27 28 28.091 1.443 Buccaneers 12 9 10 10 11 8 11 13 12 8 12 10.546 1.616 Eagles 20 18 21 20 21 21 21 17 22 17 19 19.727 1.656 Cardinals 26 24 28 27 29 28 26 27 26 23 27 26.455 1.671 Saints 5 6 12 7 5 9 7 6 8 7 6 7.091 1.929 Steelers 8 8 7 11 8 11 8 4 7 12 8 8.364 2.144 Texans 17 13 13 12 16 15 15 14 17 20 14 15.091 2.193 Bears 14 16 19 13 18 14 16 19 18 14 13 15.818 2.249 Jets 16 14 20 16 17 19 19 15 20 13 17 16.909 2.275 Raiders 9 15 9 14 10 6 10 11 13 11 10 10.727 2.416 Redskins 15 19 14 21 15 17 18 21 15 18 20 17.546 2.426 Titans 13 20 16 15 14 16 14 18 16 21 18 16.455 2.426 Bengals 18 17 17 17 13 12 13 16 9 15 15 14.727 2.597 Falcons 19 11 15 19 19 18 17 12 14 16 16 16.000 2.663

Observations:

Packers still unanimously the best.

Looks like people are finally believing in the 49ers

Lions are starting to falter a little.

Objective Average

Objective Packers 3 4 1 1 3 1 2.167 1.213 Ravens 1 1 5 3 10 3 3.833 3.078 Patriots 4 6 4 2 7 5 4.667 1.599 49ers 5 17 2 4 1 4 5.500 5.315 Lions 13 9 3 6 2 2 5.833 4.059 Bills 6 14 9 10 5 6 8.333 3.091 Saints 10 7 6 5 8 21 9.500 5.377 Jets 2 15 15 7 13 10 10.333 4.679 Steelers 7 3 16 8 15 17 11.000 5.260 Cowboys 17 2 8 9 18 20 12.333 6.446 Giants 8 10 18 19 14 7 12.667 4.679 Bengals 12 19 14 17 4 11 12.833 4.810 Raiders 11 16 10 13 11 16 12.833 2.410 Chargers 18 13 11 11 12 14 13.167 2.410 Texans 16 5 21 15 19 8 14.000 5.716 Bears 19 18 13 12 9 19 15.000 3.873 Falcons 9 29 12 18 16 9 15.500 6.898 Titans 14 8 19 14 28 18 16.833 6.122 Buccaneers 20 30 7 20 6 22 17.500 8.480 Eagles 15 11 20 16 22 23 17.833 4.220 Redskins 22 12 24 21 20 15 19.000 4.163 Vikings 21 24 25 24 23 12 21.500 4.425 Seahawks 25 32 17 22 21 25 23.667 4.607 Broncos 24 20 23 23 30 26 24.333 3.091 Browns 23 25 28 29 29 13 24.500 5.590 Panthers 27 22 26 25 26 24 25.000 1.633 Chiefs 28 31 22 27 17 31 26.000 5.033 Jaguars 29 21 27 28 27 27 26.500 2.566 Dolphins 26 26 30 26 32 30 28.333 2.427 Cardinals 31 27 29 30 25 28 28.333 1.972 Rams 32 23 32 32 24 32 29.167 4.017 Colts 30 28 31 31 31 29 30.000 1.155

Observations:

You better believe in Detroit and San Fransisco, they're both playing really well.

Oakland is actually ranked slightly better than the Chargers.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Colts 30 28 31 31 31 29 30.000 1.155 Packers 3 4 1 1 3 1 2.167 1.213 Patriots 4 6 4 2 7 5 4.667 1.599 Panthers 27 22 26 25 26 24 25.000 1.633 Cardinals 31 27 29 30 25 28 28.333 1.972 Raiders 11 16 10 13 11 16 12.833 2.410 Chargers 18 13 11 11 12 14 13.167 2.410 Dolphins 26 26 30 26 32 30 28.333 2.427 Jaguars 29 21 27 28 27 27 26.500 2.566 Ravens 1 1 5 3 10 3 3.833 3.078 Bills 6 14 9 10 5 6 8.333 3.091 Broncos 24 20 23 23 30 26 24.333 3.091 Bears 19 18 13 12 9 19 15.000 3.873 Rams 32 23 32 32 24 32 29.167 4.017 Lions 13 9 3 6 2 2 5.833 4.059 Redskins 22 12 24 21 20 15 19.000 4.163 Eagles 15 11 20 16 22 23 17.833 4.220 Vikings 21 24 25 24 23 12 21.500 4.425 Seahawks 25 32 17 22 21 25 23.667 4.607 Giants 8 10 18 19 14 7 12.667 4.679 Jets 2 15 15 7 13 10 10.333 4.679 Bengals 12 19 14 17 4 11 12.833 4.810 Chiefs 28 31 22 27 17 31 26.000 5.033 Steelers 7 3 16 8 15 17 11.000 5.260 49ers 5 17 2 4 1 4 5.500 5.315 Saints 10 7 6 5 8 21 9.500 5.377 Browns 23 25 28 29 29 13 24.500 5.590 Texans 16 5 21 15 19 8 14.000 5.716 Titans 14 8 19 14 28 18 16.833 6.122 Cowboys 17 2 8 9 18 20 12.333 6.446 Falcons 9 29 12 18 16 9 15.500 6.898 Buccaneers 20 30 7 20 6 22 17.500 8.480

Observations:

Holy variance, Batman! The Bucs are all over the map.

Atlanta and Dallas are too, but much less so. With Dallas and Atlanta, they have one outlier each, skewing the results.

San Diego is actually one of the more consistently-ranked teams. They just aren't great yet.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 0.911 1.167 Ravens 2.546 3.833 3.189 1.970 1.288 Patriots 2.455 4.667 3.561 1.477 2.212 49ers 4.364 5.500 4.932 3.227 1.136 Lions 5.727 5.833 5.780 2.556 0.106 Saints 7.091 9.500 8.295 3.733 2.409 Bills 9.909 8.333 9.121 2.248 -1.576 Chargers 6.000 13.167 9.583 3.821 7.167 Steelers 8.364 11.000 9.682 3.785 2.636 Giants 10.364 12.667 11.515 3.167 2.303 Raiders 10.727 12.833 11.780 2.615 2.106 Jets 16.909 10.333 13.621 4.577 -6.576 Bengals 14.727 12.833 13.780 3.654 -1.894 Buccaneers 10.546 17.500 14.023 6.174 6.955 Texans 15.091 14.000 14.545 3.862 -1.091 Bears 15.818 15.000 15.409 2.953 -0.818 Falcons 16.000 15.500 15.750 4.630 -0.500 Cowboys 19.727 12.333 16.030 5.279 -7.394 Titans 16.455 16.833 16.644 4.131 0.379 Redskins 17.546 19.000 18.273 3.226 1.455 Eagles 19.727 17.833 18.780 2.980 -1.894 Seahawks 22.818 23.667 23.242 2.908 0.849 Browns 23.636 24.500 24.068 3.472 0.864 Panthers 23.546 25.000 24.273 1.589 1.455 Vikings 27.818 21.500 24.659 4.103 -6.318 Chiefs 24.727 26.000 25.364 3.258 1.273 Broncos 27.000 24.333 25.667 2.461 -2.667 Jaguars 28.091 26.500 27.295 2.061 -1.591 Cardinals 26.455 28.333 27.394 1.997 1.879 Dolphins 31.091 28.333 29.712 2.083 -2.758 Rams 30.818 29.167 29.992 2.579 -1.652 Colts 30.909 30.000 30.455 1.141 -0.909

Observations:

Not much in the way of any surprises here.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 0.911 1.167 Colts 30.909 30.000 30.455 1.141 -0.909 Patriots 2.455 4.667 3.561 1.477 2.212 Panthers 23.546 25.000 24.273 1.589 1.455 Ravens 2.546 3.833 3.189 1.970 1.288 Cardinals 26.455 28.333 27.394 1.997 1.879 Jaguars 28.091 26.500 27.295 2.061 -1.591 Dolphins 31.091 28.333 29.712 2.083 -2.758 Bills 9.909 8.333 9.121 2.248 -1.576 Broncos 27.000 24.333 25.667 2.461 -2.667 Lions 5.727 5.833 5.780 2.556 0.106 Rams 30.818 29.167 29.992 2.579 -1.652 Raiders 10.727 12.833 11.780 2.615 2.106 Seahawks 22.818 23.667 23.242 2.908 0.849 Bears 15.818 15.000 15.409 2.953 -0.818 Eagles 19.727 17.833 18.780 2.980 -1.894 Giants 10.364 12.667 11.515 3.167 2.303 Redskins 17.546 19.000 18.273 3.226 1.455 49ers 4.364 5.500 4.932 3.227 1.136 Chiefs 24.727 26.000 25.364 3.258 1.273 Browns 23.636 24.500 24.068 3.472 0.864 Bengals 14.727 12.833 13.780 3.654 -1.894 Saints 7.091 9.500 8.295 3.733 2.409 Steelers 8.364 11.000 9.682 3.785 2.636 Chargers 6.000 13.167 9.583 3.821 7.167 Texans 15.091 14.000 14.545 3.862 -1.091 Vikings 27.818 21.500 24.659 4.103 -6.318 Titans 16.455 16.833 16.644 4.131 0.379 Jets 16.909 10.333 13.621 4.577 -6.576 Falcons 16.000 15.500 15.750 4.630 -0.500 Cowboys 19.727 12.333 16.030 5.279 -7.394 Buccaneers 10.546 17.500 14.023 6.174 6.955

Observations:

Tampa Bay still leading the list here.

As is typical, the closer you get to the extremes, the more consistent the rankings.

Chargers are now further down on this list once you factor in all the rankings. A lot of that has to do with the next chart ...

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Chargers 6.000 13.167 9.583 3.821 7.167 Buccaneers 10.546 17.500 14.023 6.174 6.955 Steelers 8.364 11.000 9.682 3.785 2.636 Saints 7.091 9.500 8.295 3.733 2.409 Giants 10.364 12.667 11.515 3.167 2.303 Patriots 2.455 4.667 3.561 1.477 2.212 Raiders 10.727 12.833 11.780 2.615 2.106 Cardinals 26.455 28.333 27.394 1.997 1.879 Panthers 23.546 25.000 24.273 1.589 1.455 Redskins 17.546 19.000 18.273 3.226 1.455 Ravens 2.546 3.833 3.189 1.970 1.288 Chiefs 24.727 26.000 25.364 3.258 1.273 Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 0.911 1.167 49ers 4.364 5.500 4.932 3.227 1.136 Browns 23.636 24.500 24.068 3.472 0.864 Seahawks 22.818 23.667 23.242 2.908 0.849 Titans 16.455 16.833 16.644 4.131 0.379 Lions 5.727 5.833 5.780 2.556 0.106 Falcons 16.000 15.500 15.750 4.630 -0.500 Bears 15.818 15.000 15.409 2.953 -0.818 Colts 30.909 30.000 30.455 1.141 -0.909 Texans 15.091 14.000 14.545 3.862 -1.091 Bills 9.909 8.333 9.121 2.248 -1.576 Jaguars 28.091 26.500 27.295 2.061 -1.591 Rams 30.818 29.167 29.992 2.579 -1.652 Bengals 14.727 12.833 13.780 3.654 -1.894 Eagles 19.727 17.833 18.780 2.980 -1.894 Broncos 27.000 24.333 25.667 2.461 -2.667 Dolphins 31.091 28.333 29.712 2.083 -2.758 Vikings 27.818 21.500 24.659 4.103 -6.318 Jets 16.909 10.333 13.621 4.577 -6.576 Cowboys 19.727 12.333 16.030 5.279 -7.394

Observations:

Well, San Diego is back atop the Most Overrated list. Tampa Bay is not at all that far behind.

From there it's not all that close. All other teams are within ±3 spots.

That is until you get to the bottom 3 teams. The Vikings, Jets, and Cowboys are all outperforming the prevailing perception of those teams.

Sources