I bet you all thought I forgot about this post. Ha-ha, the joke's on you! I didn't forget, I just was too busy today to get everything written up. Darn those day jobs and their money and junk.

Anyway, this week finds many-a-Chargers-fan conflicted about their team. On the one hand, this team is 4-1 heading into their bye. This is uncharted territory for any team under the helm of one Norv Turner. On the other hand, the team has appeared a bit off so far this season, especially El Capitan. Hopefully they shake off whatever is affecting them and come out of the bye stronger than ever.

You will soon see, though, that those concerns aren't completely unfounded. I don't want to spoil anything, but the truth is in the numbers.

Notable Quotes

Fox Sports

The Chargers continue to prove they actually can win in September and October, but they need to start creating more seperation between themselves and the average teams. Just when they begin to run the ball the way Norv Turner wants they get pretty banged up at the position. QB Philip Rivers misses his favorite target in TE Antonio Gates, and they will only get better when he returns from injury.

Sports Illustrated

Running back Ryan Mathews has produced five consecutive games of at least 100 yards combined rushing and receiving this season, after managing that just once as a rookie in 2010 -- with that coming in Week 17. He ran for a career-best 125 yards in Sunday's win at Denver, and this is the weapon San Diego envisioned when it spent a first-round pick on Mathews.

SBNation

They're winning, but they're not blowing anyone out. For some reason, I think that's actually a good thing.

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Saints 3 2 6 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 3.000 1.155 Patriots 2 5 3 2 3 5 5 3 2 2 5 3 3.333 1.247 Lions 4 4 2 5 4 3 4 5 4 5 2 2 3.667 1.106 Ravens 5 3 4 4 5 6 3 4 5 4 3 5 4.250 0.924 Chargers 7 6 5 7 7 8 6 6 6 6 6 7 6.417 0.759 Bills 6 8 9 6 6 4 7 8 7 7 7 6 6.750 1.233 49ers 9 7 13 8 9 7 8 9 9 14 8 8 9.083 2.100 Steelers 8 9 10 9 8 11 9 7 11 10 10 10 9.333 1.179 Texans 12 11 7 11 12 10 12 10 10 9 11 11 10.500 1.384 Redskins 10 10 8 16 10 12 10 13 8 12 9 12 10.833 2.192 Raiders 11 15 14 10 11 9 11 11 12 8 15 9 11.333 2.211 Giants 14 16 11 15 14 13 13 12 13 13 13 14 13.417 1.256 Titans 13 18 17 12 13 16 15 18 15 17 14 19 15.583 2.178 Buccaneers 16 13 15 18 15 15 14 16 19 19 12 17 15.750 2.126 Jets 17 12 20 14 17 20 20 15 18 11 17 15 16.333 2.896 Falcons 19 14 16 17 20 18 18 14 14 15 20 16 16.750 2.165 Cowboys 15 19 12 20 16 19 17 17 17 18 18 20 17.333 2.173 Bears 18 17 19 13 19 17 19 20 20 16 19 13 17.500 2.327 Bengals 20 20 18 19 18 14 16 19 16 21 16 18 17.917 1.977 Eagles 21 21 21 22 21 23 22 23 23 20 22 22 21.750 0.924 Browns 23 25 23 23 22 24 21 21 22 23 21 21 22.417 1.256 Panthers 24 22 22 21 25 21 25 24 24 22 24 23 23.083 1.382 Seahawks 22 23 24 24 23 22 23 26 21 26 26 24 23.667 1.599 Chiefs 25 26 25 25 24 25 24 22 25 24 23 25 24.417 1.038 Vikings 26 28 27 26 26 26 26 25 28 25 29 27 26.583 1.187 Broncos 27 27 29 27 27 27 28 28 27 27 28 26 27.333 0.745 Cardinals 28 24 28 29 29 28 27 27 29 28 25 28 27.500 1.500 Jaguars 29 30 26 28 28 29 29 31 26 29 27 29 28.417 1.441 Rams 31 29 30 31 30 31 31 32 31 30 30 30 30.500 0.764 Colts 32 31 32 30 32 30 30 29 30 32 31 32 30.917 1.038 Dolphins 30 32 31 32 31 32 32 30 32 31 32 31 31.333 0.745

Observations:

At 5-0, it should be no surprise that the Lions are now ranked 4th.

While the Chargers are indeed 4-1, there are some doubts of just how good they are. Their 4 wins have come against teams that have a collected 4-15 record right now.

After holding down the bottom spot for a while, Kansas City is climbing the board again.

We were warned before the season started to not write Miami off, that they could be dangerous. Guess they were wrong.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Dolphins 30 32 31 32 31 32 32 30 32 31 32 31 31.333 0.745 Broncos 27 27 29 27 27 27 28 28 27 27 28 26 27.333 0.745 Chargers 7 6 5 7 7 8 6 6 6 6 6 7 6.417 0.759 Rams 31 29 30 31 30 31 31 32 31 30 30 30 30.500 0.764 Ravens 5 3 4 4 5 6 3 4 5 4 3 5 4.250 0.924 Eagles 21 21 21 22 21 23 22 23 23 20 22 22 21.750 0.924 Colts 32 31 32 30 32 30 30 29 30 32 31 32 30.917 1.038 Chiefs 25 26 25 25 24 25 24 22 25 24 23 25 24.417 1.038 Lions 4 4 2 5 4 3 4 5 4 5 2 2 3.667 1.106 Saints 3 2 6 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 3.000 1.155 Steelers 8 9 10 9 8 11 9 7 11 10 10 10 9.333 1.179 Vikings 26 28 27 26 26 26 26 25 28 25 29 27 26.583 1.187 Bills 6 8 9 6 6 4 7 8 7 7 7 6 6.750 1.233 Patriots 2 5 3 2 3 5 5 3 2 2 5 3 3.333 1.247 Giants 14 16 11 15 14 13 13 12 13 13 13 14 13.417 1.256 Browns 23 25 23 23 22 24 21 21 22 23 21 21 22.417 1.256 Panthers 24 22 22 21 25 21 25 24 24 22 24 23 23.083 1.382 Texans 12 11 7 11 12 10 12 10 10 9 11 11 10.500 1.384 Jaguars 29 30 26 28 28 29 29 31 26 29 27 29 28.417 1.441 Cardinals 28 24 28 29 29 28 27 27 29 28 25 28 27.500 1.500 Seahawks 22 23 24 24 23 22 23 26 21 26 26 24 23.667 1.599 Bengals 20 20 18 19 18 14 16 19 16 21 16 18 17.917 1.977 49ers 9 7 13 8 9 7 8 9 9 14 8 8 9.083 2.100 Buccaneers 16 13 15 18 15 15 14 16 19 19 12 17 15.750 2.126 Falcons 19 14 16 17 20 18 18 14 14 15 20 16 16.750 2.165 Cowboys 15 19 12 20 16 19 17 17 17 18 18 20 17.333 2.173 Titans 13 18 17 12 13 16 15 18 15 17 14 19 15.583 2.178 Redskins 10 10 8 16 10 12 10 13 8 12 9 12 10.833 2.192 Raiders 11 15 14 10 11 9 11 11 12 8 15 9 11.333 2.211 Bears 18 17 19 13 19 17 19 20 20 16 19 13 17.500 2.327 Jets 17 12 20 14 17 20 20 15 18 11 17 15 16.333 2.896

Observations:

Green Bay, still unanimously #1. Don't expect that to change until they lose, and only if they lose to a bad team.

Speaking of bad teams, Miami is consistently bad.

The Chargers are one of the most consistently-ranked teams at this time.

Way to go, Rex Ryan. At least your team can score high on something.

Objective Average

Objective Patriots 1 3 1 2 1.750 0.829 Packers 3 1 2 5 2.750 1.479 Bills 2 5 6 1 3.500 2.062 Lions 12 2 5 3 5.500 3.905 Ravens 6 10 4 4 6.000 2.450 Saints 8 4 3 9 6.000 2.550 49ers 5 6 10 10 7.750 2.278 Jets 7 13 8 7 8.750 2.488 Steelers 4 14 7 13 9.500 4.153 Raiders 13 7 12 6 9.500 3.041 Cowboys 20 8 9 8 11.250 5.068 Chargers 16 9 11 14 12.500 2.693 Texans 11 16 13 11 12.750 2.046 Bears 24 11 15 12 15.500 5.124 Bengals 17 12 16 17 15.500 2.062 Titans 14 18 14 18 16.000 2.000 Falcons 15 17 17 20 17.250 1.785 Redskins 19 19 18 16 18.000 1.225 Buccaneers 23 15 21 15 18.500 3.571 Giants 9 24 19 26 19.500 6.577 Vikings 10 23 22 23 19.500 5.500 Broncos 25 22 23 21 22.750 1.479 Eagles 18 27 20 28 23.250 4.323 Chiefs 27 20 27 19 23.250 3.767 Seahawks 28 21 24 25 24.500 2.500 Browns 21 28 29 22 25.000 3.536 Dolphins 22 30 26 24 25.500 2.958 Panthers 26 25 25 30 26.500 2.062 Jaguars 30 26 28 32 29.000 2.236 Colts 29 31 31 27 29.500 1.658 Cardinals 31 29 30 29 29.750 0.829 Rams 32 32 32 31 31.750 0.433

Observations:

The stat geeks still love New England.

Chargers aren't doing so hot.

Wow, look at Minnesota's DVOA ranking. 10th? Not sure I'd buy that.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Rams 32 32 32 31 31.750 0.433 Patriots 1 3 1 2 1.750 0.829 Cardinals 31 29 30 29 29.750 0.829 Redskins 19 19 18 16 18.000 1.225 Packers 3 1 2 5 2.750 1.479 Broncos 25 22 23 21 22.750 1.479 Colts 29 31 31 27 29.500 1.658 Falcons 15 17 17 20 17.250 1.785 Titans 14 18 14 18 16.000 2.000 Texans 11 16 13 11 12.750 2.046 Bills 2 5 6 1 3.500 2.062 Bengals 17 12 16 17 15.500 2.062 Panthers 26 25 25 30 26.500 2.062 Jaguars 30 26 28 32 29.000 2.236 49ers 5 6 10 10 7.750 2.278 Ravens 6 10 4 4 6.000 2.450 Jets 7 13 8 7 8.750 2.488 Seahawks 28 21 24 25 24.500 2.500 Saints 8 4 3 9 6.000 2.550 Chargers 16 9 11 14 12.500 2.693 Dolphins 22 30 26 24 25.500 2.958 Raiders 13 7 12 6 9.500 3.041 Browns 21 28 29 22 25.000 3.536 Buccaneers 23 15 21 15 18.500 3.571 Chiefs 27 20 27 19 23.250 3.767 Lions 12 2 5 3 5.500 3.905 Steelers 4 14 7 13 9.500 4.153 Eagles 18 27 20 28 23.250 4.323 Cowboys 20 8 9 8 11.250 5.068 Bears 24 11 15 12 15.500 5.124 Vikings 10 23 22 23 19.500 5.500 Giants 9 24 19 26 19.500 6.577

Observations:

St. Louis: yup, still consistently terrible.

Cowboys, Bears, Vikings and Giants completely skew the scale, and it's all thanks to DVOA.

Chargers are a little on the lower end of this scale.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 2.750 1.875 1.059 1.750 Patriots 3.333 1.750 2.542 1.345 -1.583 Saints 3.000 6.000 4.500 2.077 3.000 Lions 3.667 5.500 4.583 2.315 1.833 Ravens 4.250 6.000 5.125 1.648 1.750 Bills 6.750 3.500 5.125 2.045 -3.250 49ers 9.083 7.750 8.417 2.222 -1.333 Steelers 9.333 9.500 9.417 2.315 0.167 Chargers 6.417 12.500 9.458 3.030 6.083 Raiders 11.333 9.500 10.417 2.571 -1.833 Texans 10.500 12.750 11.625 1.853 2.250 Jets 16.333 8.750 12.542 4.315 -7.583 Cowboys 17.333 11.250 14.292 4.111 -6.083 Redskins 10.833 18.000 14.417 3.689 7.167 Titans 15.583 16.000 15.792 2.142 0.417 Giants 13.417 19.500 16.458 4.351 6.083 Bears 17.500 15.500 16.500 3.373 -2.000 Bengals 17.917 15.500 16.708 2.256 -2.417 Falcons 16.750 17.250 17.000 2.088 0.500 Buccaneers 15.750 18.500 17.125 2.828 2.750 Eagles 21.750 23.250 22.500 2.395 1.500 Vikings 26.583 19.500 23.042 4.246 -7.083 Browns 22.417 25.000 23.708 2.358 2.583 Chiefs 24.417 23.250 23.833 2.147 -1.167 Seahawks 23.667 24.500 24.083 1.900 0.833 Panthers 23.083 26.500 24.792 2.164 3.417 Broncos 27.333 22.750 25.042 2.214 -4.583 Dolphins 31.333 25.500 28.417 2.997 -5.833 Cardinals 27.500 29.750 28.625 1.676 2.250 Jaguars 28.417 29.000 28.708 1.694 0.583 Colts 30.917 29.500 30.208 1.368 -1.417 Rams 30.500 31.750 31.125 0.882 1.250

Observations:

San Diego gets knocked down a few pegs.

Wow, sharp delineation between Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. 5 positions separate them.

Another sharp line between Denver and Miami.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Rams 30.500 31.750 31.125 0.882 1.250 Packers 1.000 2.750 1.875 1.059 1.750 Patriots 3.333 1.750 2.542 1.345 -1.583 Colts 30.917 29.500 30.208 1.368 -1.417 Ravens 4.250 6.000 5.125 1.648 1.750 Cardinals 27.500 29.750 28.625 1.676 2.250 Jaguars 28.417 29.000 28.708 1.694 0.583 Texans 10.500 12.750 11.625 1.853 2.250 Seahawks 23.667 24.500 24.083 1.900 0.833 Bills 6.750 3.500 5.125 2.045 -3.250 Saints 3.000 6.000 4.500 2.077 3.000 Falcons 16.750 17.250 17.000 2.088 0.500 Titans 15.583 16.000 15.792 2.142 0.417 Chiefs 24.417 23.250 23.833 2.147 -1.167 Panthers 23.083 26.500 24.792 2.164 3.417 Broncos 27.333 22.750 25.042 2.214 -4.583 49ers 9.083 7.750 8.417 2.222 -1.333 Bengals 17.917 15.500 16.708 2.256 -2.417 Lions 3.667 5.500 4.583 2.315 1.833 Steelers 9.333 9.500 9.417 2.315 0.167 Browns 22.417 25.000 23.708 2.358 2.583 Eagles 21.750 23.250 22.500 2.395 1.500 Raiders 11.333 9.500 10.417 2.571 -1.833 Buccaneers 15.750 18.500 17.125 2.828 2.750 Dolphins 31.333 25.500 28.417 2.997 -5.833 Chargers 6.417 12.500 9.458 3.030 6.083 Bears 17.500 15.500 16.500 3.373 -2.000 Redskins 10.833 18.000 14.417 3.689 7.167 Cowboys 17.333 11.250 14.292 4.111 -6.083 Vikings 26.583 19.500 23.042 4.246 -7.083 Jets 16.333 8.750 12.542 4.315 -7.583 Giants 13.417 19.500 16.458 4.351 6.083

Observations:

Rams: still bad. Packers: still good.

Chargers all over the board now.

Both teams from New York Jersey are your most-inconsistently-ranked teams

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Redskins 10.833 18.000 14.417 3.689 7.167 Chargers 6.417 12.500 9.458 3.030 6.083 Giants 13.417 19.500 16.458 4.351 6.083 Panthers 23.083 26.500 24.792 2.164 3.417 Saints 3.000 6.000 4.500 2.077 3.000 Buccaneers 15.750 18.500 17.125 2.828 2.750 Browns 22.417 25.000 23.708 2.358 2.583 Cardinals 27.500 29.750 28.625 1.676 2.250 Texans 10.500 12.750 11.625 1.853 2.250 Lions 3.667 5.500 4.583 2.315 1.833 Ravens 4.250 6.000 5.125 1.648 1.750 Packers 1.000 2.750 1.875 1.059 1.750 Eagles 21.750 23.250 22.500 2.395 1.500 Rams 30.500 31.750 31.125 0.882 1.250 Seahawks 23.667 24.500 24.083 1.900 0.833 Jaguars 28.417 29.000 28.708 1.694 0.583 Falcons 16.750 17.250 17.000 2.088 0.500 Titans 15.583 16.000 15.792 2.142 0.417 Steelers 9.333 9.500 9.417 2.315 0.167 Chiefs 24.417 23.250 23.833 2.147 -1.167 49ers 9.083 7.750 8.417 2.222 -1.333 Colts 30.917 29.500 30.208 1.368 -1.417 Patriots 3.333 1.750 2.542 1.345 -1.583 Raiders 11.333 9.500 10.417 2.571 -1.833 Bears 17.500 15.500 16.500 3.373 -2.000 Bengals 17.917 15.500 16.708 2.256 -2.417 Bills 6.750 3.500 5.125 2.045 -3.250 Broncos 27.333 22.750 25.042 2.214 -4.583 Dolphins 31.333 25.500 28.417 2.997 -5.833 Cowboys 17.333 11.250 14.292 4.111 -6.083 Vikings 26.583 19.500 23.042 4.246 -7.083 Jets 16.333 8.750 12.542 4.315 -7.583

Observations:

Finally, the Chargers aren't the top team on this list. That honor goes to the Washington Redskins now.

The Giants and Chargers are tied for 2nd-most overrated team.

After those three teams, it's not even close.

Dallas, Minnesota and the New York Jets round out the bottom of the list as the most underrated teams

Sources