This week finds the Chargers at 2-1. But as you'll see in a moment, that's not really reason to celebrate in San Diego just yet. We have a long season ahead of us, and a team that doesn't quite have it all together yet.

With two powerhouses losing this week — the Jets and Patriots — their stock has fallen this week, but only slightly. However, their opponents — Oakland and Buffalo, respectively — have made some waves and are climbing the rankings.

Notable Quotes

Fox Sports

The loss of Antonio Gates was detrimental for the Chargers, as they never looked to be in sync against the Chiefs. Any win in September is big for the Chargers. RB Ryan Mathews is beginning to look like he was worth trading up for in 2010.

Sports Illustrated

Philip Rivers has always trusted his right arm implicitly, but it's starting to betray him at times. Rivers has thrown two interceptions in each of his three games this season, and that's the kind of career first the Chargers could live without. Rivers has never topped 15 picks in his six seasons as the starter in San Diego, but he's well on this way to doing so. With six interceptions already, he only needs 10 more in the coming 13 games to go where he's never gone before.

ProFootballTalk

A winning record for the month of September should get these guys some sort of a commemorative paperweight.

A few surprises await you, after the jump

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Saints 2 2 8 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 2.900 1.758 Ravens 5 3 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 3.900 0.831 Patriots 3 7 4 3 3 6 5 2 2 5 4.000 1.613 Lions 4 6 2 5 5 3 3 6 7 8 4.900 1.814 Bills 6 8 3 8 7 5 6 9 8 7 6.700 1.676 Steelers 10 4 7 12 8 8 7 10 6 4 7.600 2.458 Jets 7 10 11 7 6 11 10 5 5 6 7.800 2.315 Chargers 9 5 6 9 10 7 8 8 14 12 8.800 2.561 Texans 8 9 12 6 9 14 9 7 10 10 9.400 2.200 Buccaneers 14 11 15 10 15 9 11 15 9 11 12.000 2.366 Cowboys 11 12 9 15 12 13 13 12 15 9 12.100 1.972 Raiders 13 17 10 11 11 10 12 16 11 15 12.600 2.417 Giants 12 15 14 16 14 12 14 11 16 14 13.800 1.600 Redskins 16 13 13 17 13 18 15 13 17 13 14.800 1.939 Falcons 19 14 16 14 18 16 16 17 13 16 15.900 1.758 Eagles 17 16 17 18 16 21 17 14 12 17 16.500 2.247 Titans 15 19 19 13 19 20 18 20 18 18 17.900 2.119 Bears 18 18 20 19 17 15 19 19 19 21 18.500 1.565 49ers 20 20 21 22 20 17 20 18 23 20 20.100 1.640 Browns 21 21 18 20 21 26 21 21 20 19 20.800 1.990 Panthers 22 23 22 21 23 19 22 23 28 24 22.700 2.193 Cardinals 23 22 24 23 22 22 23 22 26 23 23.000 1.183 Broncos 26 26 26 24 25 24 24 24 24 27 25.000 1.095 Bengals 27 24 27 28 28 25 26 25 22 25 25.700 1.792 Jaguars 25 31 25 27 24 23 25 26 29 22 25.700 2.571 Seahawks 24 25 23 30 27 27 29 27 31 26 26.900 2.427 Rams 31 27 28 26 26 30 27 28 25 28 27.600 1.744 Vikings 28 30 31 25 29 28 30 31 21 32 28.500 3.139 Colts 30 29 30 29 31 29 28 29 27 29 29.100 1.044 Dolphins 29 28 29 31 30 31 31 30 30 31 30.000 1.000 Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 30 31.800 0.600

Observations:

The Chargers moved up this week, albeit only slightly (8.800 avg this week vs 8.909 last week)

Philadelphia is on a free-fall — 7.000 all the way down to 16.500 — "Dream Team", anyone?

Detroit and Buffalo are really making a statement early, and people are taking notice.

The Chiefs were going to be the unanimous number-32 team, until Joel Thorman — the Chiefs homer that he is — had to go and rank them 30th. #MockAnger

It looks like playing Miami this week won't be too different from playing the Chiefs last week

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 30 31.800 0.600 Ravens 5 3 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 3.900 0.831 Dolphins 29 28 29 31 30 31 31 30 30 31 30.000 1.000 Colts 30 29 30 29 31 29 28 29 27 29 29.100 1.044 Broncos 26 26 26 24 25 24 24 24 24 27 25.000 1.095 Cardinals 23 22 24 23 22 22 23 22 26 23 23.000 1.183 Bears 18 18 20 19 17 15 19 19 19 21 18.500 1.565 Giants 12 15 14 16 14 12 14 11 16 14 13.800 1.600 Patriots 3 7 4 3 3 6 5 2 2 5 4.000 1.613 49ers 20 20 21 22 20 17 20 18 23 20 20.100 1.640 Bills 6 8 3 8 7 5 6 9 8 7 6.700 1.676 Rams 31 27 28 26 26 30 27 28 25 28 27.600 1.744 Falcons 19 14 16 14 18 16 16 17 13 16 15.900 1.758 Saints 2 2 8 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 2.900 1.758 Bengals 27 24 27 28 28 25 26 25 22 25 25.700 1.792 Lions 4 6 2 5 5 3 3 6 7 8 4.900 1.814 Redskins 16 13 13 17 13 18 15 13 17 13 14.800 1.939 Cowboys 11 12 9 15 12 13 13 12 15 9 12.100 1.972 Browns 21 21 18 20 21 26 21 21 20 19 20.800 1.990 Titans 15 19 19 13 19 20 18 20 18 18 17.900 2.119 Panthers 22 23 22 21 23 19 22 23 28 24 22.700 2.193 Texans 8 9 12 6 9 14 9 7 10 10 9.400 2.200 Eagles 17 16 17 18 16 21 17 14 12 17 16.500 2.247 Jets 7 10 11 7 6 11 10 5 5 6 7.800 2.315 Buccaneers 14 11 15 10 15 9 11 15 9 11 12.000 2.366 Raiders 13 17 10 11 11 10 12 16 11 15 12.600 2.417 Seahawks 24 25 23 30 27 27 29 27 31 26 26.900 2.427 Steelers 10 4 7 12 8 8 7 10 6 4 7.600 2.458 Chargers 9 5 6 9 10 7 8 8 14 12 8.800 2.561 Jaguars 25 31 25 27 24 23 25 26 29 22 25.700 2.571 Vikings 28 30 31 25 29 28 30 31 21 32 28.500 3.139

Observations:

Green Bay: your unanimous best team right now

Kansas City was almost unanimously the worst team as well

It's interesting how teams in the bottom half of the rankings are ranked more consistently across the board. Guess it's easier to pick out who's bad than who's good.

The Chargers are definitely all over the board. Many see this as a good team, while others see it as a flawed 2-1 team.

There are people that just want to belive in the Vikings. Others, not so much.

Objective Average

Objective Patriots 1 3 2 2.000 0.817 Packers 6 1 1 2.667 2.357 Jets 3 6 4 4.333 1.247 Bills 5 4 6 5.000 0.817 Ravens 2 11 5 6.000 3.742 Saints 10 5 3 6.000 2.944 Lions 9 2 10 7.000 3.559 Steelers 4 10 8 7.333 2.494 Giants 7 12 12 10.333 2.357 Raiders 17 7 9 11.000 4.321 Texans 8 18 11 12.333 4.190 Cowboys 23 8 7 12.667 7.318 Chargers 13 16 16 15.000 1.414 Titans 14 19 13 15.333 2.625 Falcons 12 15 20 15.667 3.300 Redskins 19 14 15 16.000 2.160 Buccaneers 22 9 17 16.000 5.354 Eagles 11 20 19 16.667 4.028 49ers 15 17 18 16.667 1.247 Bears 24 13 14 17.000 4.967 Vikings 16 21 22 19.667 2.625 Bengals 18 24 21 21.000 2.450 Browns 20 25 29 24.667 3.682 Jaguars 27 23 24 24.667 1.700 Panthers 26 26 26 26.000 0.000 Dolphins 21 30 28 26.333 3.859 Cardinals 25 28 27 26.667 1.247 Broncos 28 29 23 26.667 2.625 Seahawks 30 22 30 27.333 3.771 Colts 29 31 25 28.333 2.494 Chiefs 32 27 31 30.000 2.160 Rams 31 32 32 31.667 0.471

Observations:

Football Outsiders aren't as high on the Packers as literally everyone else.

Wow, the Chargers and Titans have nearly the same Objective Average. Ouch.

After a ton of pre-season hype about Sam Bradford and the Rams, it turns out they're not that great - at all.

Yup, the Chiefs and Dolphins are playing that poorly.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Panthers 26 26 26 26.000 0.000 Rams 31 32 32 31.667 0.471 Bills 5 4 6 5.000 0.817 Patriots 1 3 2 2.000 0.817 Jets 3 6 4 4.333 1.247 Cardinals 25 28 27 26.667 1.247 49ers 15 17 18 16.667 1.247 Chargers 13 16 16 15.000 1.414 Jaguars 27 23 24 24.667 1.700 Redskins 19 14 15 16.000 2.160 Chiefs 32 27 31 30.000 2.160 Giants 7 12 12 10.333 2.357 Packers 6 1 1 2.667 2.357 Bengals 18 24 21 21.000 2.450 Steelers 4 10 8 7.333 2.494 Colts 29 31 25 28.333 2.494 Vikings 16 21 22 19.667 2.625 Broncos 28 29 23 26.667 2.625 Titans 14 19 13 15.333 2.625 Saints 10 5 3 6.000 2.944 Falcons 12 15 20 15.667 3.300 Lions 9 2 10 7.000 3.559 Browns 20 25 29 24.667 3.682 Ravens 2 11 5 6.000 3.742 Seahawks 30 22 30 27.333 3.771 Dolphins 21 30 28 26.333 3.859 Eagles 11 20 19 16.667 4.028 Texans 8 18 11 12.333 4.190 Raiders 17 7 9 11.000 4.321 Bears 24 13 14 17.000 4.967 Buccaneers 22 9 17 16.000 5.354 Cowboys 23 8 7 12.667 7.318

Observations:

I always find it interesting when a team has similar — or the same — rankings that isn't #1 or #32. So with the Panthers having a 26th ranking across the board, I get excited. The team is not playing very well, and don't let Cam Newton's flashy numbers fool you, one person a team does not make.

The Chargers are towards the middle of the pack. They're playing like 12th-ranked team.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 2.667 1.833 1.332 1.667 Patriots 4.000 2.000 3.000 1.692 -2.000 Saints 2.900 6.000 4.450 2.466 3.100 Ravens 3.900 6.000 4.950 2.132 2.100 Bills 6.700 5.000 5.850 1.682 -1.700 Lions 4.900 7.000 5.950 2.497 2.100 Jets 7.800 4.333 6.067 2.572 -3.467 Steelers 7.600 7.333 7.467 2.469 -0.267 Texans 9.400 12.333 10.867 3.050 2.933 Raiders 12.600 11.000 11.800 3.042 -1.600 Chargers 8.800 15.000 11.900 3.512 6.200 Giants 13.800 10.333 12.067 2.321 -3.467 Cowboys 12.100 12.667 12.383 3.925 0.567 Buccaneers 12.000 16.000 14.000 3.710 4.000 Redskins 14.800 16.000 15.400 2.055 1.200 Falcons 15.900 15.667 15.783 2.214 -0.233 Eagles 16.500 16.667 16.583 2.763 0.167 Titans 17.900 15.333 16.617 2.493 -2.567 Bears 18.500 17.000 17.750 2.824 -1.500 49ers 20.100 16.667 18.383 2.126 -3.433 Browns 20.800 24.667 22.733 2.971 3.867 Bengals 25.700 21.000 23.350 2.788 -4.700 Vikings 28.500 19.667 24.083 4.798 -8.833 Panthers 22.700 26.000 24.350 2.373 3.300 Cardinals 23.000 26.667 24.833 1.955 3.667 Jaguars 25.700 24.667 25.183 2.437 -1.033 Broncos 25.000 26.667 25.833 1.734 1.667 Seahawks 26.900 27.333 27.117 2.801 0.433 Dolphins 30.000 26.333 28.167 2.567 -3.667 Colts 29.100 28.333 28.717 1.542 -0.767 Rams 27.600 31.667 29.633 2.308 4.067 Chiefs 31.800 30.000 30.900 1.389 -1.800

Observations:

Packers are still on top. Chiefs still on bottom.

The Chargers are now no longer the top team in the AFC West; that distinction goes to the Oakland Raiders (barely).

Philadelphia and Atlanta — two teams pundits were hot on to start the season — have faultered quite a bit out of the gate.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Dolphins 30.000 28.667 29.333 1.136 -1.333 Chiefs 31.800 30.000 30.900 1.389 -1.800 Giants 13.800 12.667 13.233 1.550 -1.133 Packers 1.000 3.000 2.000 1.599 2.000 Bills 6.700 5.333 6.017 1.643 -1.367 Broncos 25.000 25.000 25.000 1.664 0.000 Patriots 4.000 2.000 3.000 1.692 -2.000 Redskins 14.800 14.000 14.400 1.778 -0.800 Colts 29.100 27.000 28.050 1.862 -2.100 Falcons 15.900 17.667 16.783 1.976 1.767 Ravens 3.900 8.000 5.950 2.214 4.100 Rams 27.600 31.333 29.467 2.240 3.733 Panthers 22.700 26.000 24.350 2.373 3.300 Lions 4.900 4.667 4.783 2.413 -0.233 Saints 2.900 6.000 4.450 2.466 3.100 Jets 7.800 4.333 6.067 2.572 -3.467 Jaguars 25.700 25.333 25.517 2.588 -0.367 Eagles 16.500 17.000 16.750 2.618 0.500 Cardinals 23.000 24.000 23.500 2.636 1.000 Bears 18.500 17.000 17.750 2.824 -1.500 Raiders 12.600 10.333 11.467 2.841 -2.267 49ers 20.100 15.333 17.717 2.882 -4.767 Seahawks 26.900 27.667 27.283 2.895 0.767 Browns 20.800 24.667 22.733 2.971 3.867 Cowboys 12.100 11.333 11.717 3.149 -0.767 Texans 9.400 11.000 10.200 3.423 1.600 Buccaneers 12.000 16.000 14.000 3.710 4.000 Titans 17.900 12.333 15.117 4.068 -5.567 Steelers 7.600 13.000 10.300 4.167 5.400 Bengals 25.700 18.000 21.850 4.763 -7.700 Vikings 28.500 19.667 24.083 4.798 -8.833 Chargers 8.800 19.667 14.233 5.676 10.867

Observations:

This is now my third season doing these rankings, and in each season, the Chargers have almost always been one the more inconsistently-ranked teams. So why should this year be any different? (It's not)

Green Bay is the most consistently-ranked team, as the best team in the NFL right now. Kansas City is close behind as the worst, with the Colts next, as also terrible.

Buffalo is that good, it's not a fluke.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Chargers 8.800 15.000 11.900 3.512 6.200 Rams 27.600 31.667 29.633 2.308 4.067 Buccaneers 12.000 16.000 14.000 3.710 4.000 Browns 20.800 24.667 22.733 2.971 3.867 Cardinals 23.000 26.667 24.833 1.955 3.667 Panthers 22.700 26.000 24.350 2.373 3.300 Saints 2.900 6.000 4.450 2.466 3.100 Texans 9.400 12.333 10.867 3.050 2.933 Ravens 3.900 6.000 4.950 2.132 2.100 Lions 4.900 7.000 5.950 2.497 2.100 Broncos 25.000 26.667 25.833 1.734 1.667 Packers 1.000 2.667 1.833 1.332 1.667 Redskins 14.800 16.000 15.400 2.055 1.200 Cowboys 12.100 12.667 12.383 3.925 0.567 Seahawks 26.900 27.333 27.117 2.801 0.433 Eagles 16.500 16.667 16.583 2.763 0.167 Falcons 15.900 15.667 15.783 2.214 -0.233 Steelers 7.600 7.333 7.467 2.469 -0.267 Colts 29.100 28.333 28.717 1.542 -0.767 Jaguars 25.700 24.667 25.183 2.437 -1.033 Bears 18.500 17.000 17.750 2.824 -1.500 Raiders 12.600 11.000 11.800 3.042 -1.600 Bills 6.700 5.000 5.850 1.682 -1.700 Chiefs 31.800 30.000 30.900 1.389 -1.800 Patriots 4.000 2.000 3.000 1.692 -2.000 Titans 17.900 15.333 16.617 2.493 -2.567 49ers 20.100 16.667 18.383 2.126 -3.433 Giants 13.800 10.333 12.067 2.321 -3.467 Jets 7.800 4.333 6.067 2.572 -3.467 Dolphins 30.000 26.333 28.167 2.567 -3.667 Bengals 25.700 21.000 23.350 2.788 -4.700 Vikings 28.500 19.667 24.083 4.798 -8.833

Observations:

Sigh … I've said it before for other teams, but this week the distinction of "Most Overrated Team" goes to the Chargers, by a landslide. Their subjective ranking puts them over 6 spots above where their objective ranking places them.

Why people are still holding out hope for St. Louis, I don't know

Surprisingly, it seems Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Arizona aren't playing quite as well as people perceive.

The Vikings are actually playing quite a bit better than people want to give them credit for, but I guess people will be really down on a team that blows three consecutive double-digit halftime leads.

Miami is playing slightly better than people are thinking, but not a huge difference.

Sources