When it comes to the Power Rankings, there's Seattle, and then there's everyone else.

I know I've talked about it before, but there's a common misconception about the Chargers this year, one I think stems from the period of time the Chargers were oscillating between wins and losses. See, there's this perception that the Chargers are very inconsistent this year. In fact, however, they're one of the, if not the most consistent team this year.

"How can this be?" you ask? Well, it's all about match-ups. The Chargers have a had a consistently-excellent offense, ranking in the top-3 of nearly all the objective ratings sites in Offense all season long. They've had an average Special Teams, so that's been a non-factor. Bringing the team down has been their historically-bad Defense. How bad is the defense? Remember the disastrous 2010 Chargers Special Teams? Yeah, they're that bad. The defense is worse (23.6%) than the offense is good (22.0%).

So how does a team with a top-flight offense and a historically bad defense seem so inconsistent? It's all about match-ups. The Chargers have won 5 games this year. 4 of those 5 wins have come against teams with defenses ranked in the bottom-3rd according to Football Outsiders (20th, 25th, 27th and 29th). As soon as they played teams with average or better defenses and a competent offense, they lose. (I can't explain the Oakland loss, however.)

This is a very consistent team, let's put all this inconsistency talk behind us, k?

Notable Quotes

The team with the best chance to finish with an all-time worst rating is now San Diego, although the Chargers' defense did improve a little bit this week. - Football Outsiders

Even after a shaky 23-of-37 showing versus Cincinnati, Philip Rivers remains within striking distance of Drew Brees' single-season record for completion percentage -- Rivers sits at an even 70 percent; Brees finished at 71.2. Of course, Brees' Saints also hung 547 points on the board that season (2011). The Chargers are on pace for just 372. - Sports Illustrated

Dropping four of their last five, the Chargers fall two spots but find themselves still just on the outside edge of the wild card race. With three home games to come, all is not lost. - Pro Football Focus

Division Averages

Division Week 14 Average Week 13 Average Difference NFC West 8.8571 8.5119 -0.3452 AFC West 13.7262 13.4524 -0.2738 NFC South 14.7500 14.7381 -0.0119 AFC North 17.6548 17.5000 -0.1548 AFC East 17.9286 18.0476 0.119 NFC East 17.9643 18.2262 0.2619 NFC North 18.6548 18.5952 -0.0596 AFC South 22.4643 22.9286 0.4643

Stock Rising

Team Week 13 Average Week 14 Average Difference MIA 19.181 15.359 3.822 DET 14.042 11.464 2.578 BAL 18.889 16.409 2.480 MIN 28.431 26.168 2.263 NYG 21.708 20.132 1.576

Stock Falling

Team Week 13 Average Week 14 Average Difference GB 16.611 20.373 -3.762 NYJ 24.361 26.645 -2.284 NO 2.792 4.809 -2.017 ARI 9.056 10.695 -1.639 CLE 25.639 27.118 -1.479

Teams just don't move as much as they used to in the early weeks of the season. #HipsterGrandpaTweet #IronicHashtags

Subjective Average

Subjective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Broncos 2 3 3 2 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 2.546 0.871 Panthers 3 2 5 4 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 3.273 0.894 Patriots 4 4 2 5 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3.546 0.621 Saints 5 5 4 3 6 5 5 6 5 5 4 4.818 -2.568 49ers 6 7 8 6 5 7 7 5 7 6 6 6.364 1.136 Chiefs 7 8 6 7 9 8 6 9 6 7 7 7.273 -0.940 Bengals 8 6 7 8 8 6 8 7 8 8 8 7.455 -0.205 Eagles 10 9 10 11 7 10 13 12 10 10 10 10.182 1.318 Colts 9 11 9 12 12 12 11 11 9 9 11 10.546 0.204 Lions 12 10 12 9 13 13 10 8 11 11 9 10.727 1.690 Cowboys 11 12 11 10 10 9 12 14 13 12 13 11.546 0.287 Cardinals 13 13 13 13 14 11 9 10 12 13 12 12.091 -2.758 Ravens 14 14 14 14 11 14 16 13 14 14 14 13.818 3.182 Dolphins 17 15 16 16 15 19 14 15 15 15 17 15.818 4.099 Bears 15 20 17 15 18 18 15 18 16 16 15 16.636 -1.553 Chargers 16 17 15 18 20 16 18 16 17 17 18 17.091 -1.258 Steelers 18 16 21 19 19 21 20 20 19 18 19 19.091 -1.258 Giants 22 18 20 17 16 22 21 17 20 20 20 19.364 3.053 Rams 20 21 22 20 17 17 22 19 18 19 21 19.636 -1.553 Packers 19 24 19 21 23 15 17 30 21 21 16 20.546 -3.879 Titans 21 19 18 22 21 20 19 21 22 22 22 20.636 -1.219 Jets 23 22 23 24 30 23 23 28 23 23 23 24.091 -1.258 Bills 24 25 30 23 27 24 26 27 24 24 24 25.273 -0.940 Vikings 28 23 25 25 22 27 27 24 28 25 28 25.636 2.781 Raiders 25 27 24 26 29 29 25 23 25 28 27 26.182 0.401 Buccaneers 26 26 28 27 24 28 28 25 26 26 25 26.273 -1.023 Browns 27 31 27 28 28 26 24 22 27 27 26 26.636 -1.469 Jaguars 31 30 26 31 25 25 30 31 29 29 30 28.818 1.682 Falcons 29 28 29 29 26 30 31 26 30 30 29 28.818 1.515 Redskins 30 29 31 30 31 31 29 29 31 31 31 30.273 -1.856 Texans 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

I'm sure if Seattle could have moved up even more, they would have. Instead, they'll have to settle for being the unanimous number-1 for another week.

Beating the Chiefs again was far less impressive for Denver than it was the first time around.

Another loss, another slip in the rankings for the Chiefs.

Chargers, Steelers and Jets all fell the same amount this week; neat.

Bears and Rams fell the same amount as well.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Texans 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.000 0.000 Seahawks 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 0.000 Broncos 2 3 3 2 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 0.782 -0.333 Bengals 8 6 7 8 8 6 8 7 8 8 8 0.782 -0.047 Patriots 4 4 2 5 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 0.782 -0.017 Saints 5 5 4 3 6 5 5 6 5 5 4 0.833 0.400 Redskins 30 29 31 30 31 31 29 29 31 31 31 0.862 0.222 49ers 6 7 8 6 5 7 7 5 7 6 6 0.881 0.117 Chiefs 7 8 6 7 9 8 6 9 6 7 7 1.052 0.581 Panthers 3 2 5 4 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 1.052 0.365 Ravens 14 14 14 14 11 14 16 13 14 14 14 1.113 -0.928 Colts 9 11 9 12 12 12 11 11 9 9 11 1.233 0.223 Buccaneers 26 26 28 27 24 28 28 25 26 26 25 1.286 -0.353 Chargers 16 17 15 18 20 16 18 16 17 17 18 1.311 -0.207 Dolphins 17 15 16 16 15 19 14 15 15 15 17 1.336 -1.129 Titans 21 19 18 22 21 20 19 21 22 22 22 1.367 -0.015 Steelers 18 16 21 19 19 21 20 20 19 18 19 1.379 -0.851 Cowboys 11 12 11 10 10 9 12 14 13 12 13 1.437 0.157 Cardinals 13 13 13 13 14 11 9 10 12 13 12 1.443 0.500 Eagles 10 9 10 11 7 10 13 12 10 10 10 1.466 -0.034 Falcons 29 28 29 29 26 30 31 26 30 30 29 1.527 0.903 Lions 12 10 12 9 13 13 10 8 11 11 9 1.601 -0.459 Bears 15 20 17 15 18 18 15 18 16 16 15 1.611 0.059 Rams 20 21 22 20 17 17 22 19 18 19 21 1.720 -0.711 Raiders 25 27 24 26 29 29 25 23 25 28 27 1.898 1.258 Bills 24 25 30 23 27 24 26 27 24 24 24 1.958 1.015 Giants 22 18 20 17 16 22 21 17 20 20 20 1.967 1.474 Vikings 28 23 25 25 22 27 27 24 28 25 28 2.012 1.150 Browns 27 31 27 28 28 26 24 22 27 27 26 2.186 0.235 Jaguars 31 30 26 31 25 25 30 31 29 29 30 2.249 1.603 Jets 23 22 23 24 30 23 23 28 23 23 23 2.391 0.573 Packers 19 24 19 21 23 15 17 30 21 21 16 4.008 1.229

Observations:

Another week, another consensus at the top and bottom of the lists.

More than half of the teams saw their Standard Deviation go up this week, so teams are moving and not consistently.

When it comes to "inconsistency" in the rankings, there's Green Bay, then there's everyone else.

Chargers actually in the top-half of the league in ranking consistency.

Objective Average

Objective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1.100 0.344 Panthers 3 9 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 2 2.900 1.100 Broncos 2 3 3 2 5 3 3 8 2 3 3.400 -0.067 Saints 4 2 5 5 6 8 5 3 5 5 4.800 -1.467 49ers 6 6 4 4 11 5 4 6 4 4 5.400 0.711 Patriots 5 10 6 8 4 9 7 7 7 6 6.900 -0.678 Bengals 7 4 10 9 3 6 9 5 12 8 7.300 0.478 Chiefs 8 22 15 6 7 7 6 4 6 7 8.800 -0.022 Cardinals 11 8 7 7 10 11 8 13 9 9 9.300 -0.522 Eagles 9 5 8 13 8 10 14 10 11 13 10.100 1.011 Colts 15 18 11 11 9 12 11 14 8 10 11.900 -0.122 Lions 13 7 17 15 17 4 13 9 15 12 12.200 3.467 Cowboys 14 23 9 10 16 18 12 16 10 11 13.900 -2.011 Dolphins 17 12 13 14 14 17 15 17 16 14 14.900 3.544 Rams 12 29 12 12 18 16 10 19 13 15 15.600 -0.378 Bears 10 14 23 20 19 14 19 11 20 17 16.700 -0.589 Titans 22 21 21 18 13 13 17 12 18 19 17.400 0.822 Chargers 18 16 18 16 15 20 16 21 17 18 17.500 -1.389 Ravens 23 25 20 17 22 15 18 15 19 16 19.000 1.778 Packers 21 11 26 23 21 21 20 18 21 20 20.200 -3.644 Steelers 16 17 19 21 26 22 22 20 22 22 20.700 -1.700 Giants 25 15 16 19 20 26 25 28 14 21 20.900 0.100 Buccaneers 19 28 14 22 12 24 21 23 23 24 21.000 0.333 Bills 20 19 28 24 32 19 24 22 29 23 24.000 -1.111 Falcons 24 24 22 25 29 31 23 29 25 25 25.700 0.522 Vikings 26 26 25 27 23 30 28 30 26 26 26.700 1.744 Raiders 31 31 29 26 25 25 26 27 24 28 27.200 0.578 Redskins 28 27 30 29 24 23 30 26 28 30 27.500 -0.278 Browns 29 13 31 30 30 28 29 25 32 29 27.600 -1.489 Texans 30 20 32 28 31 27 27 24 31 31 28.100 1.011 Jets 27 30 27 32 28 29 31 31 30 27 29.200 -3.311 Jaguars 32 32 24 31 27 32 32 32 27 32 30.100 1.233

Observations:

Again, the Seahawks are firmly planted at the top of rankings.

Carolina is now the second-best team in the objective lists, passing the Broncos.

Despite beating the Chiefs, Denver dropped.

Chargers dropped more than the Bengals climbed.

Jets in free-fall. At this rate they'll be the worst team in the league by next week.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0.300 -0.656 Saints 4 2 5 5 6 8 5 3 5 5 1.536 0.122 Dolphins 17 12 13 14 14 17 15 17 16 14 1.700 -0.709 Patriots 5 10 6 8 4 9 7 7 7 6 1.700 -0.112 Broncos 2 3 3 2 5 3 3 8 2 3 1.744 0.589 Jets 27 30 27 32 28 29 31 31 30 27 1.778 -2.122 Chargers 18 16 18 16 15 20 16 21 17 18 1.803 -1.444 Cardinals 11 8 7 7 10 11 8 13 9 9 1.847 0.097 Vikings 26 26 25 27 23 30 28 30 26 26 2.052 0.411 49ers 6 6 4 4 11 5 4 6 4 4 2.059 0.689 Panthers 3 9 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 2 2.119 -0.420 Raiders 31 31 29 26 25 25 26 27 24 28 2.358 -0.171 Redskins 28 27 30 29 24 23 30 26 28 30 2.377 0.903 Eagles 9 5 8 13 8 10 14 10 11 13 2.625 -0.410 Bengals 7 4 10 9 3 6 9 5 12 8 2.685 -0.641 Steelers 16 17 19 21 26 22 22 20 22 22 2.722 -0.184 Falcons 24 24 22 25 29 31 23 29 25 25 2.795 0.310 Jaguars 32 32 24 31 27 32 32 32 27 32 2.809 1.245 Colts 15 18 11 11 9 12 11 14 8 10 2.844 -1.419 Ravens 23 25 20 17 22 15 18 15 19 16 3.286 -1.131 Titans 22 21 21 18 13 13 17 12 18 19 3.441 -0.016 Texans 30 20 32 28 31 27 27 24 31 31 3.590 -0.194 Packers 21 11 26 23 21 21 20 18 21 20 3.655 -1.722 Bears 10 14 23 20 19 14 19 11 20 17 4.051 0.180 Lions 13 7 17 15 17 4 13 9 15 12 4.094 1.386 Cowboys 14 23 9 10 16 18 12 16 10 11 4.182 -0.226 Bills 20 19 28 24 32 19 24 22 29 23 4.195 1.469 Buccaneers 19 28 14 22 12 24 21 23 23 24 4.583 0.500 Giants 25 15 16 19 20 26 25 28 14 21 4.700 -0.267 Browns 29 13 31 30 30 28 29 25 32 29 5.181 0.624 Chiefs 8 22 15 6 7 7 6 4 6 7 5.192 0.483 Rams 12 29 12 12 18 16 10 19 13 15 5.238 -0.608

Observations:

The consistency ranking here is much more linear than the Subjective list was.

More than half the teams saw their Standard Deviation go down.

Chargers are once again one of the more consistently-ranked teams.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Seahawks 1.000 1.100 1.050 0.172 Broncos 2.546 3.400 2.973 0.402 Panthers 3.273 2.900 3.086 0.997 Saints 4.818 4.800 4.809 -2.017 Patriots 3.546 6.900 5.223 -0.029 49ers 6.364 5.400 5.882 0.924 Bengals 7.455 7.300 7.377 0.137 Chiefs 7.273 8.800 8.036 -0.480 Eagles 10.182 10.100 10.141 1.165 Cardinals 12.091 9.300 10.695 -1.639 Colts 10.546 11.900 11.223 0.041 Lions 10.727 12.200 11.464 2.578 Cowboys 11.546 13.900 12.723 -0.862 Dolphins 15.818 14.900 15.359 3.822 Ravens 13.818 19.000 16.409 2.480 Bears 16.636 16.700 16.668 -1.071 Chargers 17.091 17.500 17.295 -1.323 Rams 19.636 15.600 17.618 -0.965 Titans 20.636 17.400 19.018 -0.199 Steelers 19.091 20.700 19.895 -1.478 Giants 19.364 20.900 20.132 1.576 Packers 20.546 20.200 20.373 -3.762 Buccaneers 26.273 21.000 23.636 -0.344 Bills 25.273 24.000 24.636 -1.025 Vikings 25.636 26.700 26.168 2.263 Jets 24.091 29.200 26.645 -2.284 Raiders 26.182 27.200 26.691 0.490 Browns 26.636 27.600 27.118 -1.479 Falcons 28.818 25.700 27.259 1.019 Redskins 30.273 27.500 28.886 -1.067 Jaguars 28.818 30.100 29.459 1.458 Texans 32.000 28.100 30.050 0.506

Observations:

The Broncos are nearly two full spots behind the Seahawks.

Jacksonville is finally out of the cellar!

Despite being the unanimous 32nd choice in the Subjective list, the Texans saw their overall ranking climb.

Vikings and Jets just passed each other, going opposite directions.

Giants quietly climbing back up the board.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Seahawks 1.000 1.100 0.213 -0.450 Saints 4.818 4.800 1.220 0.101 Broncos 2.546 3.400 1.397 0.264 Chargers 17.091 17.500 1.578 -0.842 Dolphins 15.818 14.900 1.588 -0.960 49ers 6.364 5.400 1.630 0.361 Panthers 3.273 2.900 1.659 -0.084 Bengals 7.455 7.300 1.939 -0.342 Eagles 10.182 10.100 2.100 -0.196 Vikings 25.636 26.700 2.100 0.844 Patriots 3.546 6.900 2.122 0.446 Cardinals 12.091 9.300 2.158 0.781 Raiders 26.182 27.200 2.189 0.366 Redskins 30.273 27.500 2.236 1.005 Colts 10.546 11.900 2.260 -0.678 Steelers 19.091 20.700 2.274 -0.333 Jaguars 28.818 30.100 2.611 1.404 Falcons 28.818 25.700 2.714 0.067 Bears 16.636 16.700 3.029 0.190 Titans 20.636 17.400 3.038 0.476 Lions 10.727 12.200 3.141 0.285 Texans 32.000 28.100 3.152 0.292 Bills 25.273 24.000 3.285 1.235 Cowboys 11.546 13.900 3.285 0.241 Jets 24.091 29.200 3.318 0.048 Ravens 13.818 19.000 3.534 -0.239 Giants 19.364 20.900 3.624 0.277 Chiefs 7.273 8.800 3.742 0.411 Packers 20.546 20.200 3.848 -0.252 Browns 26.636 27.600 3.939 0.579 Buccaneers 26.273 21.000 4.219 0.693 Rams 19.636 15.600 4.322 -0.153

Observations:

Not really much more to add here ...

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Ravens 13.818 19.000 5.182 1.404 Jets 24.091 29.200 5.109 2.053 Patriots 3.546 6.900 3.355 1.299 Cowboys 11.546 13.900 2.355 2.299 Steelers 19.091 20.700 1.609 0.442 Giants 19.364 20.900 1.536 2.953 Chiefs 7.273 8.800 1.527 -0.918 Lions 10.727 12.200 1.473 -1.777 Colts 10.546 11.900 1.355 0.327 Jaguars 28.818 30.100 1.282 0.449 Vikings 25.636 26.700 1.064 1.036 Raiders 26.182 27.200 1.018 -0.177 Browns 26.636 27.600 0.964 0.020 Broncos 2.546 3.400 0.855 0.938 Chargers 17.091 17.500 0.409 0.131 Seahawks 1.000 1.100 0.100 -0.344 Bears 16.636 16.700 0.064 -0.964 Saints 4.818 4.800 -0.018 -1.101 Eagles 10.182 10.100 -0.082 0.307 Bengals 7.455 7.300 -0.155 -0.683 Packers 20.546 20.200 -0.346 -0.235 Panthers 3.273 2.900 -0.373 -0.206 Dolphins 15.818 14.900 -0.918 0.554 49ers 6.364 5.400 -0.964 0.425 Bills 25.273 24.000 -1.273 0.171 Redskins 30.273 27.500 -2.773 -1.578 Cardinals 12.091 9.300 -2.791 -2.235 Falcons 28.818 25.700 -3.118 0.993 Titans 20.636 17.400 -3.236 -2.041 Texans 32.000 28.100 -3.900 -1.011 Rams 19.636 15.600 -4.036 -1.175 Buccaneers 26.273 21.000 -5.273 -1.356

Observations:

Oh, Baltimore. We so desperately want you to be good!

A team from New York is overrated? Say it ain't so!

12 teams have their rankings within 1 spot of each other. That's pretty good (Chargers are in that group).

Chicago gets the crown this week of "Closest to the Pin"

11 of 16 AFC teams are some varying degree of "over-ranked".

Tampa Bay continues to be the favorite whipping boy of the NFL.

Sources