I tend to underestimate how many new readers we pick up each week in this column, and in the last few weeks I've heard from some readers that they don't quite follow what the various charts and stats mean. For those of you new here, you can get an explanation of what all these tables mean.

The general consensus among pundits league-wide is while the Chargers win in Pittsburgh was indeed impressive, the question of "where has this team been all along?" is very prevelent, as is the consensus that Norv is still gone at the end of the year. This isn't exactly earth-shattering news, we've echoed those same exact sentiments here at BFTB, but that's what people are saying about the Chargers.

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking NFC West 13.8816 NFC North 14.1974 NFC East 14.8026 AFC North 14.9474 NFC South 16.2105 AFC East 17.1053 AFC South 19.1447 AFC West 21.7105

Stock Rising

Team Week 14 Average Week 15 Average Difference NYG 8.563 5.881 2.682 CAR 24.150 21.477 2.673 DAL 17.288 14.631 2.657 SEA 9.063 6.472 2.591 CLE 24.063 21.784 2.279

Wow, look at how relatively little teams have moved this week. For instance, in Week 11 the Saints, Bengals and Titans all jumped 4 or more spots compared to Week 10.

Stock Falling

Team Week 14 Average Week 15 Average Difference CIN 11.225 14.051 -2.826 ARI 25.488 28.290 -2.802 ATL 4.625 7.278 -2.653 BAL 7.925 10.398 -2.473 PIT 11.300 13.773 -2.473

Wow, look at how relatively little teams have moved this week. For instance, in Week 11 the Dolphins and Giants had fallen 4 or more spots compared to Week 10.

Subjective Average

Subjective Patriots 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 1.700 Broncos 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 2.455 1.445 Texans 3 4 2 2 5 3 2 2 2 3 4 2.909 -1.909 49ers 4 3 5 4 3 5 4 4 5 4 3 4.000 1.100 Falcons 5 5 4 5 6 4 7 6 4 6 5 5.182 -2.682 Packers 6 6 6 6 4 6 6 7 6 5 7 5.909 0.591 Giants 7 7 7 7 7 8 5 5 7 7 6 6.636 2.864 Ravens 8 9 8 10 8 9 8 9 8 8 9 8.546 -1.946 Seahawks 10 8 10 8 9 7 9 8 11 9 8 8.818 1.682 Colts 9 10 9 9 10 11 10 10 9 10 10 9.727 1.073 Redskins 12 11 15 12 11 10 11 11 10 12 11 11.455 2.545 Bears 11 12 11 11 12 15 13 12 15 11 12 12.273 -3.073 Steelers 15 16 14 13 13 14 12 14 12 13 13 13.546 -2.446 Cowboys 13 13 12 15 15 12 14 13 13 16 14 13.636 2.564 Bengals 14 15 13 14 16 13 15 15 16 15 16 14.727 -3.027 Vikings 16 14 17 16 14 16 16 16 14 14 15 15.273 2.527 Rams 17 17 18 18 17 17 17 18 19 18 17 17.546 1.254 Buccaneers 18 18 16 17 18 19 18 17 18 17 18 17.636 -2.436 Saints 22 19 22 19 19 18 19 20 20 19 19 19.636 -2.136 Jets 19 24 19 21 22 24 24 19 17 24 20 21.182 1.718 Browns 20 20 21 20 20 21 25 21 27 23 22 21.818 2.182 Chargers 23 21 20 22 23 25 21 22 23 21 21 22.000 2.700 Dolphins 21 22 26 24 21 22 20 23 22 20 23 22.182 -1.682 Panthers 26 25 27 23 25 20 22 27 24 25 25 24.455 3.345 Lions 25 23 25 26 24 28 23 25 26 22 24 24.636 -2.436 Bills 24 27 23 25 26 23 26 24 21 26 26 24.636 -3.136 Eagles 27 26 28 28 27 26 27 26 28 28 27 27.091 2.309 Titans 28 28 24 27 28 27 28 28 25 27 28 27.091 -1.991 Cardinals 29 29 29 32 29 29 30 29 30 29 29 29.455 -2.355 Raiders 30 32 32 31 31 31 29 32 29 30 30 30.636 0.364 Chiefs 32 31 30 29 30 30 32 30 32 32 31 30.818 -0.518 Jaguars 31 30 31 30 32 32 31 31 31 31 32 31.091 -0.191

Observations:

Last week, Houston was the unanimous number-1 team. The Patriots embarrassed them this week, so naturally New Englands get sto assume the throne.

Who has been the bigger disappointment this year: Chargers or Eagles?

Hey, remember when the Cardinals beat the Patriots in week 2, in Foxboro? That was fun.

Chargers rose in the rankings more than the Steelers fell.

The Colts keep rising, much to my chagrin. Apparently people tend to forget the Colts had this season's second-easiest schedule (according to Football Outsiders).

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Patriots 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.640 Broncos 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 0.498 -0.202 Colts 9 10 9 9 10 11 10 10 9 10 10 0.617 -0.632 Rams 17 17 18 18 17 17 17 18 19 18 17 0.656 -1.571 Ravens 8 9 8 10 8 9 8 9 8 8 9 0.656 -0.144 Jaguars 31 30 31 30 32 32 31 31 31 31 32 0.668 -0.468 49ers 4 3 5 4 3 5 4 4 5 4 3 0.739 0.200 Buccaneers 18 18 16 17 18 19 18 17 18 17 18 0.771 0.023 Eagles 27 26 28 28 27 26 27 26 28 28 27 0.793 -0.227 Packers 6 6 6 6 4 6 6 7 6 5 7 0.793 -0.013 Giants 7 7 7 7 7 8 5 5 7 7 6 0.881 -1.132 Cardinals 29 29 29 32 29 29 30 29 30 29 29 0.891 0.060 Falcons 5 5 4 5 6 4 7 6 4 6 5 0.936 0.436 Texans 3 4 2 2 5 3 2 2 2 3 4 0.996 0.996 Chiefs 32 31 30 29 30 30 32 30 32 32 31 1.029 0.248 Bengals 14 15 13 14 16 13 15 15 16 15 16 1.052 -0.683 Vikings 16 14 17 16 14 16 16 16 14 14 15 1.052 0.072 Raiders 30 32 32 31 31 31 29 32 29 30 30 1.068 -0.115 Seahawks 10 8 10 8 9 7 9 8 11 9 8 1.113 -0.798 Steelers 15 16 14 13 13 14 12 14 12 13 13 1.157 -0.218 Cowboys 13 13 12 15 15 12 14 13 13 16 14 1.226 0.478 Saints 22 19 22 19 19 18 19 20 20 19 19 1.226 0.555 Redskins 12 11 15 12 11 10 11 11 10 12 11 1.305 0.858 Titans 28 28 24 27 28 27 28 28 25 27 28 1.311 -0.808 Chargers 23 21 20 22 23 25 21 22 23 21 21 1.348 -0.070 Bears 11 12 11 11 12 15 13 12 15 11 12 1.420 0.254 Lions 25 23 25 26 24 28 23 25 26 22 24 1.611 0.534 Dolphins 21 22 26 24 21 22 20 23 22 20 23 1.696 0.131 Bills 24 27 23 25 26 23 26 24 21 26 26 1.720 0.602 Panthers 26 25 27 23 25 20 22 27 24 25 25 2.017 0.690 Browns 20 20 21 20 20 21 25 21 27 23 22 2.208 0.535 Jets 19 24 19 21 22 24 24 19 17 24 20 2.443 0.930

Observations:

Yes, it's unanimous that the Patriots are number 1

Neat, pretty good consensus on the Rams being kind of average.

Also pretty good consensus in the Buccaneers being bottom-half.

Giants and Packers duking it out for positioning.

Chiefs no longer unanimously the worst team in the league.

What do Mark Sanchez and the Jets' power rankings have in common? They're both very inconsistent.

Objective Average

Objective 49ers 4 2 4 2 2 3 2 2 2.625 1.250 Patriots 1 6 1 1 6 1 1 5 2.750 -0.125 Broncos 3 1 2 3 8 8 5 1 3.875 -0.250 Seahawks 2 4 6 6 3 6 3 3 4.125 3.500 Texans 8 5 3 4 5 2 7 4 4.750 -1.875 Giants 5 7 7 5 1 4 4 8 5.125 2.500 Packers 7 10 5 8 4 14 8 6 7.750 1.125 Bears 6 14 15 7 11 5 6 10 9.250 -0.750 Falcons 14 8 11 9 7 10 9 7 9.375 -2.625 Redskins 11 9 9 12 14 15 11 13 11.750 1.125 Ravens 10 21 12 10 17 9 10 9 12.250 -3.000 Bengals 9 11 16 13 21 11 14 12 13.375 -2.625 Steelers 13 15 18 17 9 13 16 11 14.000 -2.500 Buccaneers 15 17 23 11 16 7 12 14 14.375 -0.875 Cowboys 18 16 13 14 15 19 13 17 15.625 2.750 Rams 19 13 10 16 12 23 17 16 15.750 1.625 Lions 12 12 26 19 24 12 18 21 18.000 0.125 Panthers 16 3 24 21 32 16 21 15 18.500 2.000 Saints 21 20 21 18 19 17 20 22 19.750 -2.375 Vikings 24 26 17 15 18 21 15 24 20.000 1.750 Jets 25 19 14 23 10 26 24 26 20.875 1.000 Dolphins 23 18 19 22 25 20 22 18 20.875 -0.625 Browns 20 23 20 24 27 18 23 19 21.750 2.375 Colts 26 25 8 25 13 25 26 27 21.875 0.125 Chargers 22 24 25 20 28 22 19 20 22.500 0.250 Bills 17 22 22 26 20 30 25 23 23.125 -0.500 Cardinals 28 31 29 27 23 27 27 25 27.125 -3.250 Eagles 27 28 28 28 26 24 28 29 27.250 0.625 Titans 29 27 27 29 22 28 29 28 27.375 -0.375 Raiders 30 29 32 30 29 31 31 30 30.250 0.375 Jaguars 31 32 30 31 30 29 30 31 30.500 -0.375 Chiefs 32 30 31 32 31 32 32 32 31.500 -0.375

Observations:

I've seen calls for me to drop certain Objective sources because some people feel they throw a wrench into the rankings and really skew the results. But there's a reason I use more ranking systems: they all have different criteria. If there's not an agreement on a team's ranking, then it means they aren't doing things consistently well one way or another. If there is agreement, then they are a more consistent team. Also, you could point to each one of the objective rankings where they're the outlier in at least one instance. I can't get rid of all the objective sources.

Kind of funny how the 49ers are the top-ranked team in Objective Rankings, even though not one site ranked them in first place.

Interesting: the Titans, Jaguars and Chiefs all dropped 0.375 spots this week, while the Raiders rose the same amount.

On the subjective side of things, the Colts rose over 1 full spot. On the objective side of things, they only rose 1/8th of one spot (0.125).

Chargers only rose 0.250 this week despite a strong-looking showing against Pittsburgh.

Steelers on the other hand dropped 2.5 spots.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Chiefs 32 30 31 32 31 32 32 32 0.707 0.107 49ers 4 2 4 2 2 3 2 2 0.857 -1.290 Jaguars 31 32 30 31 30 29 30 31 0.866 -0.300 Raiders 30 29 32 30 29 31 31 30 0.968 -0.250 Eagles 27 28 28 28 26 24 28 29 1.479 -0.725 Seahawks 2 4 6 6 3 6 3 3 1.536 -0.806 Saints 21 20 21 18 19 17 20 22 1.561 -0.557 Texans 8 5 3 4 5 2 7 4 1.854 -0.293 Redskins 11 9 9 12 14 15 11 13 2.046 -0.042 Giants 5 7 7 5 1 4 4 8 2.088 -0.307 Cowboys 18 16 13 14 15 19 13 17 2.118 -0.224 Titans 29 27 27 29 22 28 29 28 2.176 -0.060 Falcons 14 8 11 9 7 10 9 7 2.176 -0.896 Cardinals 28 31 29 27 23 27 27 25 2.260 -1.463 Patriots 1 6 1 1 6 1 1 5 2.278 -0.168 Dolphins 23 18 19 22 25 20 22 18 2.368 0.322 Broncos 3 1 2 3 8 8 5 1 2.666 0.324 Browns 20 23 20 24 27 18 23 19 2.817 0.790 Chargers 22 24 25 20 28 22 19 20 2.828 0.147 Steelers 13 15 18 17 9 13 16 11 2.872 -0.290 Packers 7 10 5 8 4 14 8 6 2.948 -0.029 Bengals 9 11 16 13 21 11 14 12 3.498 1.644 Bears 6 14 15 7 11 5 6 10 3.597 -0.111 Bills 17 22 22 26 20 30 25 23 3.689 -0.340 Rams 19 13 10 16 12 23 17 16 3.865 0.059 Vikings 24 26 17 15 18 21 15 24 4.062 1.114 Ravens 10 21 12 10 17 9 10 9 4.116 -0.699 Buccaneers 15 17 23 11 16 7 12 14 4.414 0.843 Lions 12 12 26 19 24 12 18 21 5.220 0.906 Jets 25 19 14 23 10 26 24 26 5.622 0.089 Colts 26 25 8 25 13 25 26 27 6.716 0.064 Panthers 16 3 24 21 32 16 21 15 7.826 -0.048

Observations:

At least the Chiefs are consistent about being bad.

Holy crap are the Panthers still all over the board. From 3rd to 32nd depending on the ranking site.

If you took the two outliers out of there, the Colts actually are one of the most-consistently-ranked teams at ~25th.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Patriots 1.000 2.750 1.875 0.788 Broncos 2.455 3.875 3.165 0.598 49ers 4.000 2.625 3.313 1.175 Texans 2.909 4.750 3.830 -1.892 Giants 6.636 5.125 5.881 2.682 Seahawks 8.818 4.125 6.472 2.591 Packers 5.909 7.750 6.830 0.858 Falcons 5.182 9.375 7.278 -2.653 Ravens 8.546 12.250 10.398 -2.473 Bears 12.273 9.250 10.761 -1.911 Redskins 11.455 11.750 11.602 1.836 Steelers 13.546 14.000 13.773 -2.473 Bengals 14.727 13.375 14.051 -2.826 Cowboys 13.636 15.625 14.631 2.657 Colts 9.727 21.875 15.801 0.599 Buccaneers 17.636 14.375 16.006 -1.656 Rams 17.546 15.750 16.648 1.440 Vikings 15.273 20.000 17.636 2.139 Saints 19.636 19.750 19.693 -2.255 Jets 21.182 20.875 21.028 1.360 Lions 24.636 18.000 21.318 -1.155 Panthers 24.455 18.500 21.477 2.673 Dolphins 22.182 20.875 21.528 -1.153 Browns 21.818 21.750 21.784 2.279 Chargers 22.000 22.500 22.250 1.475 Bills 24.636 23.125 23.881 -1.818 Eagles 27.091 27.250 27.170 1.468 Titans 27.091 27.375 27.233 -1.183 Cardinals 29.455 27.125 28.290 -2.802 Raiders 30.636 30.250 30.443 0.370 Jaguars 31.091 30.500 30.795 -0.282 Chiefs 30.818 31.500 31.159 -0.446

Observations:

17 teams rose in positioning this week. 15 teams dropped in ranking.

7 NFC teams in the top-12, 5 AFC teams. Are the Steelers a top-12 team? Well, technically they're ranked outside the top-12, but they're the 12th-highest-ranked team on the board.

If we're getting technical, there are only 11 teams ranked 12th or better. 7 NFC teams and 4 AFC teams.

Wow, could the Lions and Panthers be any more analogous this week?

8 of the bottom 10 teams are in the AFC.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Jaguars 31.091 30.500 0.812 -0.400 Chiefs 30.818 31.500 0.968 0.151 49ers 4.000 2.625 1.042 -0.564 Raiders 30.636 30.250 1.045 -0.168 Eagles 27.091 27.250 1.136 -0.684 Saints 19.636 19.750 1.379 -0.120 Redskins 11.455 11.750 1.664 0.127 Giants 6.636 5.125 1.686 -0.695 Texans 2.909 4.750 1.688 -0.020 Patriots 1.000 2.750 1.712 0.012 Titans 27.091 27.375 1.734 -0.634 Broncos 2.455 3.875 1.905 0.253 Cowboys 13.636 15.625 1.930 -0.049 Cardinals 29.455 27.125 1.983 -1.036 Steelers 13.546 14.000 2.073 -0.279 Dolphins 22.182 20.875 2.108 0.309 Chargers 22.000 22.500 2.117 -0.174 Packers 5.909 7.750 2.202 -0.184 Browns 21.818 21.750 2.483 0.643 Bengals 14.727 13.375 2.498 0.648 Falcons 5.182 9.375 2.605 -0.360 Seahawks 8.818 4.125 2.661 0.110 Rams 17.546 15.750 2.706 -0.408 Bills 24.636 23.125 2.828 -0.039 Bears 12.273 9.250 2.974 0.331 Ravens 8.546 12.250 3.275 -0.246 Buccaneers 17.636 14.375 3.338 0.751 Vikings 15.273 20.000 3.611 0.739 Jets 21.182 20.875 4.097 0.206 Lions 24.636 18.000 4.870 1.262 Panthers 24.455 18.500 6.065 -0.392 Colts 9.727 21.875 7.429 0.252

Observations:

No real surprises here.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Colts 9.727 21.875 12.148 0.948 Vikings 15.273 20.000 4.727 0.777 Falcons 5.182 9.375 4.193 -0.057 Ravens 8.546 12.250 3.705 1.055 Cowboys 13.636 15.625 1.989 -0.186 Packers 5.909 7.750 1.841 -0.534 Texans 2.909 4.750 1.841 -0.034 Patriots 1.000 2.750 1.750 1.825 Broncos 2.455 3.875 1.421 1.696 Chiefs 30.818 31.500 0.682 -0.143 Chargers 22.000 22.500 0.500 2.450 Steelers 13.546 14.000 0.455 0.055 Redskins 11.455 11.750 0.296 1.421 Titans 27.091 27.375 0.284 -1.616 Eagles 27.091 27.250 0.159 1.684 Saints 19.636 19.750 0.114 0.239 Browns 21.818 21.750 -0.068 -0.193 Jets 21.182 20.875 -0.307 0.718 Raiders 30.636 30.250 -0.386 -0.011 Jaguars 31.091 30.500 -0.591 0.184 Dolphins 22.182 20.875 -1.307 -1.057 Bengals 14.727 13.375 -1.352 -0.402 49ers 4.000 2.625 -1.375 -0.150 Giants 6.636 5.125 -1.511 0.364 Bills 24.636 23.125 -1.511 -2.636 Rams 17.546 15.750 -1.796 -0.371 Cardinals 29.455 27.125 -2.330 0.895 Bears 12.273 9.250 -3.023 -2.323 Buccaneers 17.636 14.375 -3.261 -1.561 Seahawks 8.818 4.125 -4.693 -1.818 Panthers 24.455 18.500 -5.955 1.345 Lions 24.636 18.000 -6.636 -2.561

Observations:

The Colts' disparity is growing each week. Now they're over-ranked by over 12 spots. That's almost a 40% over-ranking.

The Vikings are the next over-ranked team and it's not even that close at 4.727.

The last time a team was over-ranked nearly as much as the Colts are was when the 2010 Chiefs were over-ranked by about 10 spots late in the season. We all know what happened to them.

Chargers have definitely settled in now. Their objective and subjective rankings are within 0.5 spots of each other.

Carolina — the Chargers' next opponent — is one of the most under-ranked teams.

9 of the 10 most under-ranked teams are in the NFC.

Surely you all have your own observations. Speak up in the comments about what you take away from these rankings.

Sources