The Vikings and Eagles are here, and they're for real.

Once again, it took me two weeks to get the rankings out. These take a lot of time for me to do and I had trouble getting them out last week. But, I was able to dedicate the time this week, so here they are!

Heading into this 2016 NFL season, the conventional wisdom was that the Panthers and Cardinals were favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LI. My, how things change once games are being played. Understood that significant injuries to a team's quarterback will hamper even the best of teams, but both teams have been flawed deep beyond their second-string quarterback play.

With the Cardinals and Panthers hampered, the door has opened for new teams to take the torch, and we have a new guard in the NFC. Gone are the Panthers, Cardinals, Giants and Saints. In their place we have the likeliest candidates in the Vikings, Eagles, Falcons, and Cowboys; just like everyone predicted.

Notable Quotes

Sent this tweet out on Sunday and stand behind it fully. It absolutely boggles my mind that people can consider Joe Flacco or Eli Manning to be better than Philip Rivers simply because of a ring (or two). This is pro football, not effing Mordor. Rivers has been consistently outstanding for the bulk of his career, and while those other guys have displayed moments of brilliance, they've also been consistently mediocre. Rivers single-handedly keeps the Chargers afloat while everything around him crumbles. Would anyone have watched "The Hunt for Red October" if Sean Connery wasn't in it -- and it only featured Alec Baldwin with slicked-back hair working with the Jurassic Park guy in a big stolen sub? Rivers' hold on being an all-timer is a helluva lot firmer than his holder's -- tell you that right now. Alright, I'm done. Rant over. - NFL.com

The Chargers keep finding ways to lose under Mike McCoy, dropping 11 of their past 12 games, all of which were decided by a touchdown or less. McCoy's Chargers have allowed an NFL-worst 103 points in the second half/overtime this season (39 points in the first half). - ESPN

Having a hard time moving the Chargers down in the rankings because they have a dynamic offense (No. 2 in points) and are extremely competitive each week. Also can’t move them up because their fourth-quarter performances come with all the composure of a stressed-out Nicolas Cage. - Sports Illustrated

Division Averages

Division Week 4 Average Week 6 Average Difference NFC East 15.250 13.011 2.239 AFC West 11.659 13.326 -1.667 NFC North 15.818 14.261 1.557 AFC North 15.750 16.598 -0.848 NFC West 15.841 16.772 -0.931 AFC East 15.284 17.337 -2.053 NFC South 19.568 18.435 1.133 AFC South 22.830 22.261 0.569

Stock Rising

Team Week 4 Average Week 6 Average Difference ATL 16.545 6.110 10.435 BUF 17.955 10.182 7.773 WAS 23.864 16.428 7.436 DAL 14.500 8.920 5.580 OAK 15.773 10.580 5.193

Stock Falling

Team Week 4 Average Week 6 Average Difference CAR 9.000 19.451 -10.451 KC 7.500 14.386 -6.886 NYJ 19.000 25.761 -6.761 MIA 22.455 29.201 -6.746 BAL 10.455 15.508 -5.053

Subjective Average

We'll start off with the Subjective Average. These rankings are the ones that has actual people ranking the teams based on their gut feelings. You'll see in a moment that some of these sites may even just throw darts at a board, or have a chicken pecking at numbers.

I then take all those rankings and average them together, then sort the table based on the average ranking. This method evens out the peaks and valleys and allows us to get a more reliable "big picture" view of the perception of where teams rank in the league.

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit PFF AP Average Change in Value 1 Vikings 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1.667 1.424 2 Patriots 2 4 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2.167 -0.894 3 Falcons 6 6 4 3 3 6 4 6 3 6 1 7 4.583 10.872 4 Steelers 3 2 6 4 4 5 6 4 6 3 11 3 4.750 2.432 5 Broncos 4 5 5 5 5 7 5 7 4 4 5 5 5.083 -3.356 6 Seahawks 5 9 7 7 7 4 3 3 5 5 10 4 5.750 0.432 7 Packers 9 3 3 6 8 3 7 5 8 7 9 6 6.167 -0.803 8 Cowboys 7 7 8 10 6 10 8 8 7 9 4 9 7.750 5.159 9 Eagles 11 10 9 9 10 9 9 9 10 8 2 8 8.667 -3.394 10 Raiders 12 8 10 8 9 8 10 10 9 10 7 10 9.250 5.023 11 Bills 16 11 14 13 11 14 11 15 15 12 13 11 13.000 9.364 12 Ravens 14 14 16 12 19 13 18 11 14 16 6 13 13.833 -5.287 13 Bengals 8 13 18 19 13 16 14 18 11 11 14 16 14.250 -0.795 14 Chiefs 15 15 12 17 12 15 17 13 13 15 18 12 14.500 -4.864 15 Redskins 22 17 13 11 14 11 15 14 12 17 15 14 14.583 6.781 16 Cardinals 10 12 17 15 15 18 13 17 16 14 12 17 14.667 -2.576 17 Texans 18 16 11 16 17 12 16 12 17 13 26 15 15.750 -2.568 18 Rams 19 18 15 14 16 17 12 16 19 18 20 18 16.833 3.076 19 Giants 17 21 19 18 26 22 20 19 18 19 22 19 20.000 -5.636 20 Lions 20 23 22 21 18 23 19 21 22 20 24 20 21.083 2.372 21 Panthers 13 25 27 25 24 20 23 26 21 21 19 21 22.083 -12.719 22 Titans 26 20 26 20 21 21 26 23 20 26 17 23 22.417 2.947 23 Buccaneers 23 24 21 22 22 19 22 20 27 22 29 24 22.917 0.992 24 Colts 21 19 23 24 25 24 25 22 28 23 25 22 23.417 -1.599 25 Saints 25 26 20 26 20 25 27 24 23 25 21 25 23.917 4.810 26 Jets 27 28 24 28 28 27 21 27 24 24 31 26 26.250 -7.250 27 Jaguars 30 27 25 23 27 26 24 25 26 27 27 28 26.250 3.568 28 Chargers 24 22 28 27 23 31 28 29 25 28 23 27 26.250 -2.704 29 Bears 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 28 30 31 16 30 28.250 3.205 30 Dolphins 29 30 30 31 30 28 31 31 29 29 28 29 29.583 -4.856 31 49ers 31 31 31 30 32 29 29 30 31 30 32 31 30.583 -2.674 32 Browns 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 30 32 31.750 -0.477

Observations:

Making a return this week for the first time this season: Pro Football Focus. (Related: messing up every team's deviation: Pro Football Focus). It should be noted that PFF's rankings are actually subjective, selected by the writers of the site.

It feels like it's been forever since the Vikings have been this good, so live it up Minnesota, you've earned.

While I agree that the Falcons caught the Broncos at a good time with Paxton Lynch getting his first NFL start; the Broncos were completely out-played the whole game, so why some pundits still have the Broncos ahead of the Falcons is beyond me. Maybe too many people hanging on to last year's 5-0 start?

Pretty sad state of afairs when the Chargers have a +10 point differential, one of the best-performing offenses in the league, and are considered to be the 5th-worst team in the league. (Mike Florio at PFT even thinks they're the second-worst team.)

Subjective Standard Deviation

Put simply, Standard Deviation is a tool in statistics to measure how much variance there is in a set of numbers. To put more simply: I use it to look at who's ranked the most- and least-consistently. In Standard Deviation, the lower the number, the more consistent the values in the set.

For our purposes, this means the lower the Standard Deviation, the more consistent the rankings. The opposite is true too: the higher the number, the less consistent the rankings.

This table is sorted by most-consistently ranked to least-consistently ranked.

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit PFF AP STD DEV Change in Value 1 Browns 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 30 32 0.595 -0.267 2 Patriots 2 4 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 0.687 0.242 3 Broncos 4 5 5 5 5 7 5 7 4 4 5 5 0.954 0.509 4 49ers 31 31 31 30 32 29 29 30 31 30 32 31 0.954 -0.551 5 Dolphins 29 30 30 31 30 28 31 31 29 29 28 29 1.038 -1.378 6 Raiders 12 8 10 8 9 8 10 10 9 10 7 10 1.299 -0.244 7 Cowboys 7 7 8 10 6 10 8 8 7 9 4 9 1.639 -1.420 8 Lions 20 23 22 21 18 23 19 21 22 20 24 20 1.706 -1.871 9 Bills 16 11 14 13 11 14 11 15 15 12 13 11 1.732 -0.764 10 Falcons 6 6 4 3 3 6 4 6 3 6 1 7 1.754 -0.517 11 Jaguars 30 27 25 23 27 26 24 25 26 27 27 28 1.785 0.952 12 Vikings 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 1 1.929 1.641 13 Chiefs 15 15 12 17 12 15 17 13 13 15 18 12 2.021 -0.286 14 Packers 9 3 3 6 8 3 7 5 8 7 9 6 2.154 0.722 15 Seahawks 5 9 7 7 7 4 3 3 5 5 10 4 2.165 0.524 16 Eagles 11 10 9 9 10 9 9 9 10 8 2 8 2.173 0.887 17 Colts 21 19 23 24 25 24 25 22 28 23 25 22 2.216 0.467 18 Rams 19 18 15 14 16 17 12 16 19 18 20 18 2.230 0.121 19 Steelers 3 2 6 4 4 5 6 4 6 3 11 3 2.278 0.241 20 Saints 25 26 20 26 20 25 27 24 23 25 21 25 2.290 1.540 21 Giants 17 21 19 18 26 22 20 19 18 19 22 19 2.345 0.288 22 Cardinals 10 12 17 15 15 18 13 17 16 14 12 17 2.392 -0.576 23 Jets 27 28 24 28 28 27 21 27 24 24 31 26 2.521 0.225 24 Chargers 24 22 28 27 23 31 28 29 25 28 23 27 2.681 0.410 25 Buccaneers 23 24 21 22 22 19 22 20 27 22 29 24 2.691 0.498 26 Redskins 22 17 13 11 14 11 15 14 12 17 15 14 2.929 1.157 27 Titans 26 20 26 20 21 21 26 23 20 26 17 23 2.929 0.662 28 Bengals 8 13 18 19 13 16 14 18 11 11 14 16 3.166 0.740 29 Ravens 14 14 16 12 19 13 18 11 14 16 6 13 3.262 1.703 30 Panthers 13 25 27 25 24 20 23 26 21 21 19 21 3.662 1.277 31 Bears 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 28 30 31 16 30 3.789 3.133 32 Texans 18 16 11 16 17 12 16 12 17 13 26 15 3.789 1.132

Observations:

Agreement about the Browns being worst, though it's not unanimous ... yet. Give it another week or two, we'll get there.

PFF seems to be irrationaly high on the Bears and Ravens, and irrationaly down on the Texans.

Objective Average

I call these rankings the "Objective" rankings because unlike the rankings above, these are rankings based on statistical models of some sort. I use the term "Objective" loosely here because there is still some inherent bias in how the various models are constructed. Each ranking site has their own criteria in what they feel is success in the NFL.

All that said, these rankings are more objective as they remove perception and bias and produce rankings based on how well teams actually play, not how they're perceived to play.

Objective FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 FPI Average Change in Value 1 Vikings 2 7 1 3 7 2 2 1 1 2 1 2.636 3.637 2 Steelers 3 3 2 4 2 3 7 3 3 4 4 3.455 6.818 3 Broncos 7 5 4 9 10 5 9 2 2 1 3 5.182 -0.636 4 Eagles 4 12 8 2 1 1 1 8 8 11 7 5.727 -0.363 5 Patriots 10 1 3 10 18 7 3 4 4 5 2 6.091 -3.909 6 Seahawks 1 2 6 14 4 13 8 7 6 3 8 6.546 0.727 7 Packers 5 6 5 13 6 8 13 6 5 6 5 7.091 0.182 8 Bills 8 8 7 8 3 6 6 9 9 8 9 7.364 6.182 9 Falcons 6 13 11 1 14 4 4 5 7 9 10 7.636 10.000 10 Cowboys 9 16 10 11 5 9 5 10 10 14 12 10.091 6.000 11 Cardinals 11 4 9 23 15 10 12 13 12 10 6 11.364 -2.818 12 Raiders 13 14 12 5 8 11 10 12 11 21 14 11.909 5.364 13 Chiefs 12 9 13 19 16 22 19 11 13 7 16 14.273 -8.909 14 Bengals 17 10 15 16 21 19 21 14 17 13 13 16.000 -1.636 15 Panthers 20 11 14 30 11 17 22 18 19 12 11 16.818 -8.182 16 Ravens 15 17 16 7 17 21 16 21 15 20 24 17.182 -4.818 17 Redskins 16 26 20 6 24 18 17 17 16 16 25 18.273 8.091 18 Giants 18 23 18 17 23 14 15 19 21 23 19 19.091 1.182 19 Texans 31 18 17 12 25 23 29 15 14 15 21 20.000 -3.545 20 Chargers 14 15 22 28 20 15 11 27 27 26 15 20.000 -3.091 21 Lions 22 21 23 20 26 12 18 22 20 18 27 20.818 -0.182 22 Titans 19 30 28 18 9 16 14 26 22 31 20 21.182 5.091 23 Colts 26 20 19 24 12 24 27 24 23 22 17 21.636 -0.909 24 Rams 24 19 21 15 27 26 25 16 18 17 31 21.727 -0.091 25 Saints 21 25 26 21 13 20 23 25 25 24 18 21.909 4.182 26 Jets 30 22 24 25 29 27 30 23 26 19 23 25.273 -6.273 27 Bears 23 31 30 27 22 25 20 28 30 28 26 26.364 2.636 28 49ers 28 29 25 32 19 28 26 29 28 27 22 26.636 -3.454 29 Jaguars 25 27 29 22 28 31 24 30 29 30 28 27.546 1.454 30 Buccaneers 29 28 27 29 30 30 32 20 24 25 30 27.636 -0.909 31 Dolphins 27 24 31 26 32 29 28 31 31 29 29 28.818 -8.636 32 Browns 32 32 32 31 31 32 31 32 32 32 32 31.727 -3.181

Observations:

Near-unanimous consensus about the Vikings being the best team in the NFL. The various stats-based rankings don't necessarily agree.

I use DAVE/Weighted DVOA as my source for the Football Outsiders rankings. The Vikings are #2 in DAVE, but for the first time in the 27-year history of DVOA, they are #1 in non-weighted DVOA.

Just at a cursory glance, Aikman appears to be the most out of line with the consensus.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 FPI STD DEV Change in Value 1 Browns 32 32 32 31 31 32 31 32 32 32 32 0.445 -4.836 2 Steelers 3 3 2 4 2 3 7 3 3 4 4 1.305 -3.919 3 Bills 8 8 7 8 3 6 6 9 9 8 9 1.720 -0.251 4 Vikings 2 7 1 3 7 2 2 1 1 2 1 2.144 -3.149 5 Dolphins 27 24 31 26 32 29 28 31 31 29 29 2.328 -3.029 6 Jaguars 25 27 29 22 28 31 24 30 29 30 28 2.675 0.189 7 Packers 5 6 5 13 6 8 13 6 5 6 5 2.906 -0.399 8 Giants 18 23 18 17 23 14 15 19 21 23 19 2.999 -2.155 9 Broncos 7 5 4 9 10 5 9 2 2 1 3 3.010 -1.346 10 Cowboys 9 16 10 11 5 9 5 10 10 14 12 3.147 -3.227 11 Buccaneers 29 28 27 29 30 30 32 20 24 25 30 3.283 0.793 12 Bengals 17 10 15 16 21 19 21 14 17 13 13 3.303 -2.548 13 Jets 30 22 24 25 29 27 30 23 26 19 23 3.360 -1.739 14 Bears 23 31 30 27 22 25 20 28 30 28 26 3.392 0.834 15 49ers 28 29 25 32 19 28 26 29 28 27 22 3.419 -1.049 16 Saints 21 25 26 21 13 20 23 25 25 24 18 3.704 -1.053 17 Raiders 13 14 12 5 8 11 10 12 11 21 14 3.825 -2.207 18 Lions 22 21 23 20 26 12 18 22 20 18 27 3.904 -0.408 19 Eagles 4 12 8 2 1 1 1 8 8 11 7 3.910 0.310 20 Falcons 6 13 11 1 14 4 4 5 7 9 10 3.914 -0.137 21 Seahawks 1 2 6 14 4 13 8 7 6 3 8 3.963 0.171 22 Colts 26 20 19 24 12 24 27 24 23 22 17 4.162 -1.062 23 Ravens 15 17 16 7 17 21 16 21 15 20 24 4.260 -0.115 24 Chiefs 12 9 13 19 16 22 19 11 13 7 16 4.371 2.064 25 Cardinals 11 4 9 23 15 10 12 13 12 10 6 4.715 0.595 26 Patriots 10 1 3 10 18 7 3 4 4 5 2 4.719 2.773 27 Rams 24 19 21 15 27 26 25 16 18 17 31 4.956 -0.941 28 Redskins 16 26 20 6 24 18 17 17 16 16 25 5.310 1.891 29 Panthers 20 11 14 30 11 17 22 18 19 12 11 5.638 1.542 30 Chargers 14 15 22 28 20 15 11 27 27 26 15 5.985 -0.586 31 Texans 31 18 17 12 25 23 29 15 14 15 21 6.030 -0.512 32 Titans 19 30 28 18 9 16 14 26 22 31 20 6.658 2.350

Observations:

Agreement about the Browns being worst, though it's not unanimous ... yet. Give it another week or two, we'll get there.

I know it's hard to believe, but the Bills may actually be good this year!

Another year, another disappointing season for the Jaguars which saw many people at the start of the season trumpeting, "this will be their year!"

Overall Average

Now let's compare the two sets of data. We'll start with the "Overall Average" chart. This takes the Subjective Average and the Objective Average, and then averages those two numbers. This way it gives equal weight to both averages so that even though Subjective Average has a larger sample size, it doesn't drown out the Objective Average.

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Average Change in Value 1 Vikings 1.667 2.636 2.152 2.530 2 Steelers 4.750 3.455 4.102 4.625 3 Patriots 2.167 6.091 4.129 -2.402 4 Broncos 5.083 5.182 5.133 -1.997 5 Falcons 4.583 7.636 6.110 10.435 6 Seahawks 5.750 6.546 6.148 0.579 7 Packers 6.167 7.091 6.629 -0.311 8 Eagles 8.667 5.727 7.197 -1.879 9 Cowboys 7.750 10.091 8.920 5.580 10 Bills 13.000 7.364 10.182 7.773 11 Raiders 9.250 11.909 10.580 5.193 12 Cardinals 14.667 11.364 13.015 -2.697 13 Chiefs 14.500 14.273 14.386 -6.886 14 Bengals 14.250 16.000 15.125 -1.216 15 Ravens 13.833 17.182 15.508 -5.053 16 Redskins 14.583 18.273 16.428 7.436 17 Texans 15.750 20.000 17.875 -3.057 18 Rams 16.833 21.727 19.280 1.493 19 Panthers 22.083 16.818 19.451 -10.451 20 Giants 20.000 19.091 19.545 -2.227 21 Lions 21.083 20.818 20.951 1.094 22 Titans 22.417 21.182 21.799 4.019 23 Colts 23.417 21.636 22.527 -1.254 24 Saints 23.917 21.909 22.913 4.496 25 Chargers 26.250 20.000 23.125 -2.898 26 Buccaneers 22.917 27.636 25.277 0.041 27 Jets 26.250 25.273 25.761 -6.761 28 Jaguars 26.250 27.546 26.898 2.511 29 Bears 28.250 26.364 27.307 2.920 30 49ers 30.583 26.636 28.610 -3.065 31 Dolphins 29.583 28.818 29.201 -6.746 32 Browns 31.750 31.727 31.739 -1.830

Observations:

Steelers, Patriots, Broncos all the class of the AFC much like was predicted. The next best AFC teams are the Bills and Raiders, also like everyone predicted?

Solid cluster of similar rankings around the Falcons, Seahawks, and Packers.

I seem to remember some talk of Miami finally being able to put it together this year. Whoops.

Overall Standard Deviation

The Overall Standard Deviation does not average anything out, it just takes the Standard Deviation across all the rankings. Yes this will even things out slightly, but it goes to show which teams have consensus across the board.

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg STD DEV Change in Value 1 Browns 31.750 31.727 0.529 -3.493 2 Dolphins 29.583 28.818 1.817 -2.919 3 Steelers 4.750 3.455 1.985 -2.270 4 Vikings 1.667 2.636 2.092 -1.980 5 Broncos 5.083 5.182 2.193 -1.209 6 Jaguars 26.250 27.546 2.346 0.447 7 Packers 6.167 7.091 2.583 -0.137 8 Giants 20.000 19.091 2.716 -2.196 9 Cowboys 7.750 10.091 2.740 -2.506 10 Lions 21.083 20.818 2.971 -1.234 11 Jets 26.250 25.273 2.992 -0.962 12 Raiders 9.250 11.909 3.105 -1.546 13 49ers 30.583 26.636 3.155 -0.932 14 Seahawks 5.750 6.546 3.180 0.208 15 Saints 23.917 21.909 3.210 -0.441 16 Bills 13.000 7.364 3.303 -1.647 17 Bengals 14.250 16.000 3.348 -1.154 18 Falcons 4.583 7.636 3.355 -0.106 19 Chiefs 14.500 14.273 3.359 0.215 20 Colts 23.417 21.636 3.411 -0.522 21 Eagles 8.667 5.727 3.454 0.751 22 Bears 28.250 26.364 3.726 1.491 23 Buccaneers 22.917 27.636 3.807 1.070 24 Patriots 2.167 6.091 3.839 2.356 25 Cardinals 14.667 11.364 4.042 0.038 26 Ravens 13.833 17.182 4.127 0.328 27 Rams 16.833 21.727 4.508 -0.004 28 Redskins 14.583 18.273 4.621 0.925 29 Titans 22.417 21.182 5.105 1.633 30 Panthers 22.083 16.818 5.396 2.025 31 Texans 15.750 20.000 5.421 0.167 32 Chargers 26.250 20.000 5.534 -0.397

Observations:

Chargers just edging out the Texans as the least consistently-ranked team in the NFL overall.

13 teams saw their rankings become less consistent, but 19 saw theirs become more consistent. As the season goes on, teams settle in.

Overall, the Browns have the strongest consensus and it isn't even close.

Difference in Averages

This compares the Subjective average ranking with the Objective average ranking. This tells us just how far off people are from the formulas. A positive number means people think they will be or are better than the stats indicate, a negative number means the math thinks they're better than what people think. The closer to 0 this number is, the more in agreement the Subjective and Objective rankings are.

Generally speaking, the Subjective Rankings tend to be more reactionary to a team's performance than the mathematical models are. You'll often end up with major peaks and valleys for a team in the Subjective rankings, where the Objective rankings are more steady.

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Diff. in Avg Change in Value 1 Rams 16.833 21.727 4.894 3.167 2 Buccaneers 22.917 27.636 4.720 1.902 3 Texans 15.750 20.000 4.250 0.977 4 Patriots 2.167 6.091 3.924 3.015 5 Redskins 14.583 18.273 3.689 -1.311 6 Ravens 13.833 17.182 3.349 -0.469 7 Falcons 4.583 7.636 3.053 0.871 8 Raiders 9.250 11.909 2.659 -0.341 9 Cowboys 7.750 10.091 2.341 -0.841 10 Bengals 14.250 16.000 1.750 0.841 11 Jaguars 26.250 27.546 1.296 2.114 12 Vikings 1.667 2.636 0.970 -2.212 13 Packers 6.167 7.091 0.924 -0.985 14 Seahawks 5.750 6.546 0.796 -0.295 15 Broncos 5.083 5.182 0.099 -2.719 16 Browns 31.750 31.727 -0.023 2.704 17 Chiefs 14.500 14.273 -0.227 4.046 18 Lions 21.083 20.818 -0.265 2.553 19 Dolphins 29.583 28.818 -0.765 3.781 20 Giants 20.000 19.091 -0.909 -6.818 21 Jets 26.250 25.273 -0.977 -0.977 22 Titans 22.417 21.182 -1.235 -2.144 23 Steelers 4.750 3.455 -1.296 -4.387 24 Colts 23.417 21.636 -1.780 -0.689 25 Bears 28.250 26.364 -1.886 0.569 26 Saints 23.917 21.909 -2.008 0.628 27 Eagles 8.667 5.727 -2.939 -3.030 28 Cardinals 14.667 11.364 -3.303 0.242 29 49ers 30.583 26.636 -3.947 0.780 30 Panthers 22.083 16.818 -5.265 -4.538 31 Bills 13.000 7.364 -5.636 3.182 32 Chargers 26.250 20.000 -6.250 0.386

Observations:

Oh no, is the irrational love for the Rams just delayed this year?

Bucs over-ranked too. Has Jameis Winston just stolen too many hearts?

It's not often we see the Patriots overranked, and yet, here we are. Will be interesting to see if the objective rankings come up to match now that Brady is back.

Chargers are the most under-ranked team. I mean, I know it's easy to be down on a 1-4 team that has blown so many games late. But you can't discount they've played quite well in the other 58 minutes of each of their games.

Buffalo sorely under-ranked too. Maybe pundits afraid to believe in them.

Sources