After a few weeks of bouncing between the first and second spots, the Seahawks are now the unanimous top pick across the board, courtesy of a Broncos loss and the Seahawks' beat-down of the Giants.

A week ago, people were abuzz about the Chargers stunning the nation by beating the Denver Broncos. "How did they do it?" people asked. "This was unexpected and unheard of!"

Then the same thing happened around the league to the other top contenders. All of a sudden, what San Diego accomplished in Denver was less impressive; It was just part of a collective bump in the road for the other top teams. That's not to say the Chargers didn't climb a little in the rankings this week — they did — I'm just saying given the Chargers' body of work this season, they didn't shoot up the rankings by any means.

I'm not here to whine. What the Chargers did in Denver was indeed impressive, but it was just one game. Know what else was one game? The matchup against Washington. As was the Tennessee game and the Miami games. If anything, the win over the Broncos is just that much more frustrating considering what could have been by now.

Notable Quotes

A Denver hiccup Thursday was excused when everyone else did the same Sunday. The Broncos should have home-field advantage, especially finishing against the Raiders and Texans -- a combined 6-22. - ESPN

Could this be the team Denver least wants to see in the playoffs? The Chargers pushed the Broncos in an eight-point Week 10 loss and then took it to the AFC leaders last Thursday. - Sports Illustrated

The San Diego Chargers may not be in the drivers seat for the playoffs, but they have found their groove. Fantastic games these past two weeks, including the "upset of the year" against the Broncos on Thursday. If the Chargers manage to sneak into the post season they will be very dangerous. In other news, The Chargers petitioned the NFL for Archie Manning to come out of retirement, so they could pull off the Manning Face Trifecta. - Reddit

Division Averages

Division Week 16 Average Week 15 Average Difference NFC West 7.9125 9.1750 1.2625 AFC West 13.2375 13.4750 0.2375 NFC South 14.6375 14.5250 -0.1125 AFC North 16.9125 17.1750 0.2625 AFC East 17.1250 17.3625 0.2375 NFC North 17.3875 18.1250 0.7375 NFC East 21.5500 19.4875 -2.0625 AFC South 23.2375 22.6750 -0.5625

Stock Rising

Team Week 15 Average Week 16 Average Difference MIN 26.879 23.750 3.129 STL 20.162 17.800 2.362 SDG 15.818 13.600 2.218 BAL 16.146 14.200 1.946 PIT 20.313 18.500 1.813

Stock Falling

Team Week 15 Average Week 16 Average Difference PHI 9.167 12.600 -3.433 DET 13.131 16.000 -2.869 DAL 16.222 18.800 -2.578 NYG 22.424 24.850 -2.426 JAX 27.283 29.350 -2.067

Subjective Average

Subjective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.455 Broncos 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2.200 -0.564 49ers 3 2 4 4 2 6 6 3 5 3 3.800 1.473 Panthers 4 4 7 5 5 3 5 4 4 6 4.700 1.391 Saints 5 5 6 6 4 5 4 6 3 4 4.800 -1.527 Chiefs 6 6 5 3 7 7 3 7 6 7 5.700 1.482 Patriots 7 7 3 7 6 4 7 5 7 5 5.800 -1.800 Cardinals 8 9 9 8 12 10 9 8 9 9 9.100 1.264 Bengals 9 8 8 9 15 11 8 9 8 8 9.300 -2.027 Colts 10 10 10 10 14 13 11 10 10 14 11.200 0.800 Ravens 12 11 12 11 11 8 14 13 13 11 11.600 1.582 Bears 13 14 13 13 10 12 13 12 12 10 12.200 0.891 Dolphins 14 12 14 12 8 15 10 11 14 13 12.300 1.882 Eagles 11 16 11 14 16 9 12 16 11 12 12.800 -3.800 Chargers 15 13 15 17 9 16 16 15 15 16 14.700 1.936 Packers 16 17 17 16 13 14 15 18 17 17 16.000 2.091 Lions 17 15 16 15 20 20 17 14 16 15 16.500 -3.682 Cowboys 18 18 18 18 21 17 18 20 19 18 18.500 -2.500 Steelers 19 19 19 20 17 19 19 17 20 19 18.800 1.382 Rams 20 20 20 19 18 18 20 19 18 20 19.200 2.346 Titans 21 22 21 21 26 24 22 21 21 21 22.000 -0.273 Jets 22 23 22 23 22 21 21 26 22 25 22.700 -1.700 Vikings 23 21 24 26 19 26 24 23 26 24 23.600 3.491 Giants 26 25 23 24 29 25 23 24 23 22 24.400 -2.218 Buccaneers 24 26 25 27 25 27 25 25 25 23 25.200 -1.382 Bills 25 27 27 22 27 22 26 29 24 26 25.500 2.136 Falcons 28 24 26 25 23 29 29 27 30 28 26.900 2.282 Browns 27 30 29 28 28 28 28 22 27 27 27.400 -1.945 Jaguars 29 29 28 29 24 23 27 30 29 29 27.700 -2.245 Raiders 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 28 28 30 29.400 -1.218 Redskins 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31.100 -0.009 Texans 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 31.900 0.009

Observations:

SI seems to be the one that's a little off-kilter this week judging by the colors that don't quite line up.

Without SI moving the Chargers up to the 9th spot, they only rose 1.3 spots this week. Several rankers didn't even move the Chargers at all.

Seahawks are unanimous at number 1 in the subjective list. Broncos near-unanimous at number 2.

Your bottom 3 are firmly cemented: Raiders, Redskins and Texans. All three teams beat the Chargers this year.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.656 Texans 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 0.300 0.012 Redskins 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 0.300 0.012 Broncos 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 0.400 -0.081 Rams 20 20 20 19 18 18 20 19 18 20 0.872 -1.317 Raiders 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 28 28 30 0.917 -0.112 Steelers 19 19 19 20 17 19 19 17 20 19 0.980 -0.547 Saints 5 5 6 6 4 5 4 6 3 4 0.980 0.535 Panthers 4 4 7 5 5 3 5 4 4 6 1.100 0.307 Cowboys 18 18 18 18 21 17 18 20 19 18 1.118 -0.010 Cardinals 8 9 9 8 12 10 9 8 9 9 1.136 -0.090 Buccaneers 24 26 25 27 25 27 25 25 25 23 1.166 -0.026 Bears 13 14 13 13 10 12 13 12 12 10 1.249 -0.130 Patriots 7 7 3 7 6 4 7 5 7 5 1.400 0.547 49ers 3 2 4 4 2 6 6 3 5 3 1.400 0.187 Packers 16 17 17 16 13 14 15 18 17 17 1.483 -0.349 Chiefs 6 6 5 3 7 7 3 7 6 7 1.487 0.458 Jets 22 23 22 23 22 21 21 26 22 25 1.552 -0.448 Ravens 12 11 12 11 11 8 14 13 13 11 1.562 0.533 Titans 21 22 21 21 26 24 22 21 21 21 1.613 -0.765 Colts 10 10 10 10 14 13 11 10 10 14 1.661 0.455 Giants 26 25 23 24 29 25 23 24 23 22 1.908 0.159 Lions 17 15 16 15 20 20 17 14 16 15 1.962 -0.287 Browns 27 30 29 28 28 28 28 22 27 27 2.010 0.339 Dolphins 14 12 14 12 8 15 10 11 14 13 2.052 0.106 Bengals 9 8 8 9 15 11 8 9 8 8 2.100 0.964 Chargers 15 13 15 17 9 16 16 15 15 16 2.147 1.168 Vikings 23 21 24 26 19 26 24 23 26 24 2.154 0.273 Bills 25 27 27 22 27 22 26 29 24 26 2.156 0.436 Falcons 28 24 26 25 23 29 29 27 30 28 2.211 1.019 Jaguars 29 29 28 29 24 23 27 30 29 29 2.238 -0.537 Eagles 11 16 11 14 16 9 12 16 11 12 2.400 1.547

Observations:

NFC teams make up 11 of the top 16 teams in the "more consistently-ranked" teams. Not surprising.

Eagles are ranked about as consistently as they've played this year.

Most (not all) of the inconsistency can be blamed on SI.

Objective Average

Objective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.222 Panthers 3 8 3 3 5 2 4 3 4 3 3.800 0.533 49ers 5 5 2 2 14 4 3 4 2 2 4.300 1.700 Broncos 2 3 6 4 10 3 2 7 3 5 4.500 -1.500 Saints 7 2 4 6 2 8 5 5 6 4 4.900 -0.567 Bengals 8 4 9 8 4 6 8 6 10 9 7.200 -0.978 Chiefs 4 19 12 5 11 5 6 2 5 6 7.500 0.167 Cardinals 10 7 5 7 13 11 7 10 7 8 8.500 -0.167 Patriots 6 11 8 9 9 10 9 8 9 7 8.600 -1.156 Colts 14 18 14 11 8 13 10 14 8 10 12.000 1.000 Dolphins 18 15 7 10 6 15 13 13 12 11 12.000 1.333 Eagles 11 6 15 15 12 9 17 9 14 16 12.400 -3.067 Bears 9 10 17 17 3 12 16 11 16 13 12.400 1.933 Chargers 12 16 11 12 7 14 12 15 11 15 12.500 2.500 Lions 16 9 22 19 20 7 14 12 19 17 15.500 -2.056 Rams 15 27 10 13 26 16 11 21 13 12 16.400 2.378 Ravens 20 26 13 14 15 17 18 16 15 14 16.800 2.311 Steelers 13 13 18 18 18 23 20 19 20 20 18.200 2.244 Packers 21 12 20 21 23 18 21 17 18 19 19.000 0.778 Cowboys 19 23 21 16 21 21 15 20 17 18 19.100 -2.656 Titans 22 21 27 20 16 20 19 18 21 21 20.500 -1.389 Buccaneers 17 30 16 23 19 22 22 22 23 22 21.600 -2.711 Bills 23 22 25 25 27 19 24 23 27 23 23.800 1.422 Vikings 24 20 19 22 28 28 25 24 24 25 23.900 2.767 Falcons 25 28 23 24 24 29 23 27 25 24 25.200 0.133 Giants 28 17 24 26 22 31 27 29 22 27 25.300 -2.633 Browns 27 14 29 29 25 27 26 25 30 28 26.000 0.111 Jets 26 29 26 27 17 25 30 31 26 26 26.300 0.367 Redskins 30 25 30 30 29 24 31 28 31 30 28.800 0.311 Raiders 31 31 31 28 30 26 29 30 29 29 29.400 -0.844 Texans 29 24 32 32 32 30 28 26 32 31 29.600 -0.600 Jaguars 32 32 28 31 31 32 32 32 28 32 31.000 -1.889

Observations:

After a week of looking in line with the other rankings, BeatGraphs got all broken after this last week of upsets.

Seahawks are unanimous on this list too. The Panthers are nearly 2 full spots behind them in 2nd place.

Sharp clustering of teams. Chargers included in the "Good, not great" teams, that includes Colts, Dolphins, Eagles and Bears.

Jaguars still holding down the fort at the bottom of the list.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Seahawks 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.629 Patriots 6 11 8 9 9 10 9 8 9 7 1.357 -0.909 Raiders 31 31 31 28 30 26 29 30 29 29 1.497 -0.453 Jaguars 32 32 28 31 31 32 32 32 28 32 1.549 -2.322 Panthers 3 8 3 3 5 2 4 3 4 3 1.600 -1.527 Saints 7 2 4 6 2 8 5 5 6 4 1.868 0.814 Bengals 8 4 9 8 4 6 8 6 10 9 1.990 -0.539 Falcons 25 28 23 24 24 29 23 27 25 24 1.990 -0.759 Bills 23 22 25 25 27 19 24 23 27 23 2.272 -1.217 Cardinals 10 7 5 7 13 11 7 10 7 8 2.291 0.527 Redskins 30 25 30 30 29 24 31 28 31 30 2.315 0.032 Broncos 2 3 6 4 10 3 2 7 3 5 2.419 1.172 Cowboys 19 23 21 16 21 21 15 20 17 18 2.427 -0.943 Chargers 12 16 11 12 7 14 12 15 11 15 2.500 0.867 Texans 29 24 32 32 32 30 28 26 32 31 2.691 -0.676 Titans 22 21 27 20 16 20 19 18 21 21 2.730 -0.155 Vikings 24 20 19 22 28 28 25 24 24 25 2.809 1.395 Packers 21 12 20 21 23 18 21 17 18 19 2.898 -0.896 Steelers 13 13 18 18 18 23 20 19 20 20 2.960 -0.026 Colts 14 18 14 11 8 13 10 14 8 10 3.000 -0.019 Eagles 11 6 15 15 12 9 17 9 14 16 3.412 0.873 49ers 5 5 2 2 14 4 3 4 2 2 3.437 0.855 Dolphins 18 15 7 10 6 15 13 13 12 11 3.493 0.785 Jets 26 29 26 27 17 25 30 31 26 26 3.635 1.141 Ravens 20 26 13 14 15 17 18 16 15 14 3.655 0.307 Buccaneers 17 30 16 23 19 22 22 22 23 22 3.666 -1.129 Giants 28 17 24 26 22 31 27 29 22 27 3.900 -0.814 Bears 9 10 17 17 3 12 16 11 16 13 4.200 0.768 Browns 27 14 29 29 25 27 26 25 30 28 4.313 -0.839 Lions 16 9 22 19 20 7 14 12 19 17 4.674 1.473 Chiefs 4 19 12 5 11 5 6 2 5 6 4.801 0.329 Rams 15 27 10 13 26 16 11 21 13 12 5.834 0.261

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Seahawks 1.000 1.000 1.000 0.338 Broncos 2.200 4.500 3.350 -1.032 49ers 3.800 4.300 4.050 1.586 Panthers 4.700 3.800 4.250 0.962 Saints 4.800 4.900 4.850 -1.047 Chiefs 5.700 7.500 6.600 0.824 Patriots 5.800 8.600 7.200 -1.478 Bengals 9.300 7.200 8.250 -1.503 Cardinals 9.100 8.500 8.800 0.548 Colts 11.200 12.000 11.600 0.900 Dolphins 12.300 12.000 12.150 1.608 Bears 12.200 12.400 12.300 1.412 Eagles 12.800 12.400 12.600 -3.433 Chargers 14.700 12.500 13.600 2.218 Ravens 11.600 16.800 14.200 1.946 Lions 16.500 15.500 16.000 -2.869 Packers 16.000 19.000 17.500 1.434 Rams 19.200 16.400 17.800 2.362 Steelers 18.800 18.200 18.500 1.813 Cowboys 18.500 19.100 18.800 -2.578 Titans 22.000 20.500 21.250 -0.831 Buccaneers 25.200 21.600 23.400 -2.046 Vikings 23.600 23.900 23.750 3.129 Jets 22.700 26.300 24.500 -0.667 Bills 25.500 23.800 24.650 1.779 Giants 24.400 25.300 24.850 -2.426 Falcons 26.900 25.200 26.050 1.208 Browns 27.400 26.000 26.700 -0.917 Jaguars 27.700 31.000 29.350 -2.067 Raiders 29.400 29.400 29.400 -1.031 Redskins 31.100 28.800 29.950 0.151 Texans 31.900 29.600 30.750 -0.295

Observations:

That sharp delineation from above carries over to the overall listing. There's Seattle, then there's the rest of the league.

Baltimore now joins the other teams in the "good, not great" list.

Overall now, the Jaguars, Raiders, Redskins and Texans are solidly the bottom 4.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Seahawks 1.000 1.000 0.000 -0.654 Raiders 29.400 29.400 1.241 -0.285 Panthers 4.700 3.800 1.445 -0.902 Saints 4.800 4.900 1.493 0.551 Cardinals 9.100 8.500 1.833 0.031 Cowboys 18.500 19.100 1.913 -0.508 Patriots 5.800 8.600 1.965 -0.411 Redskins 31.100 28.800 2.012 0.179 Broncos 2.200 4.500 2.080 0.945 Steelers 18.800 18.200 2.225 -0.079 Texans 31.900 29.600 2.233 -0.458 Falcons 26.900 25.200 2.269 -0.532 Bengals 9.300 7.200 2.300 0.335 Titans 22.000 20.500 2.364 -0.560 Bills 25.500 23.800 2.372 -0.552 Colts 11.200 12.000 2.458 0.189 Vikings 23.600 23.900 2.508 0.808 Jaguars 27.700 31.000 2.535 -1.245 Chargers 14.700 12.500 2.577 1.031 49ers 3.800 4.300 2.636 0.651 Packers 16.000 19.000 2.748 -0.257 Dolphins 12.300 12.000 2.868 0.510 Eagles 12.800 12.400 2.956 1.132 Bears 12.200 12.400 3.100 0.506 Giants 24.400 25.300 3.103 -0.323 Buccaneers 25.200 21.600 3.262 -0.878 Jets 22.700 26.300 3.324 -0.274 Browns 27.400 26.000 3.437 -0.249 Lions 16.500 15.500 3.619 0.882 Chiefs 5.700 7.500 3.666 0.561 Ravens 11.600 16.800 3.829 0.044 Rams 19.200 16.400 4.400 0.098

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Ravens 11.600 16.800 5.200 -0.729 Jets 22.700 26.300 3.600 -2.067 Jaguars 27.700 31.000 3.300 -0.357 Packers 16.000 19.000 3.000 1.313 Patriots 5.800 8.600 2.800 -0.644 Broncos 2.200 4.500 2.300 0.936 Chiefs 5.700 7.500 1.800 1.315 Giants 24.400 25.300 0.900 0.415 Colts 11.200 12.000 0.800 -0.200 Cowboys 18.500 19.100 0.600 0.156 49ers 3.800 4.300 0.500 -0.227 Vikings 23.600 23.900 0.300 0.724 Bears 12.200 12.400 0.200 -1.042 Saints 4.800 4.900 0.100 -0.961 Raiders 29.400 29.400 0.000 -0.374 Seahawks 1.000 1.000 0.000 0.232 Dolphins 12.300 12.000 -0.300 0.549 Eagles 12.800 12.400 -0.400 -0.733 Cardinals 9.100 8.500 -0.600 1.430 Steelers 18.800 18.200 -0.600 -0.863 Panthers 4.700 3.800 -0.900 0.858 Lions 16.500 15.500 -1.000 -1.626 Browns 27.400 26.000 -1.400 -2.057 Titans 22.000 20.500 -1.500 1.116 Falcons 26.900 25.200 -1.700 2.149 Bills 25.500 23.800 -1.700 0.714 Bengals 9.300 7.200 -2.100 -1.049 Chargers 14.700 12.500 -2.200 -0.564 Redskins 31.100 28.800 -2.300 -0.320 Texans 31.900 29.600 -2.300 0.609 Rams 19.200 16.400 -2.800 -0.032 Buccaneers 25.200 21.600 -3.600 1.329

Observations:

6 of the 7 teams with an "over-ranking" greater than 1 are in the AFC.

6 of the 10 teams with an "under-ranking" more than 1 are in the AFC.

That means of the 17 teams with more than 1 spot of disparity, 12 are in the AFC. The conference is in shambles.

On the flip-side, Oakland is ranked exactly where they should be at 29.400. Neat.

Sources