This week is just flying by, I can't believe it's already time to write up everyone's favorite column. And not to mention, we have Chargers football to watch again tomorrow already! Awesome.

So how are we feeling about the Chargers' season now that we're half way through it? Kinda medicore, right? Well you're not far off. Ever since coming off the bye, the Chargershave been consistently sliding down the rankings. For most the season, their Objective Ranking has been lower than their Subjective Rankings. Well, that discrepency has been corrected, although in the wrong direction for us fans. The best thing you could say about this Chargers team right now is they're about average (if not slightly worse).

Division Average Rankings

We're going to try something a little new this time. I'm going to include a little chart that shows the average ranking the team in a particular division has. This should be a good way to show which are the strongest and weakest divisions in the league. You'll be please to know the AFC West is not the weakest division in the NFL, and not even the weakest AFC division. That said, stop calling it "AFC Worst!"

Division Average Ranking NFC North 10.3194 AFC North 11.8056 NFC South 14.8333 AFC East 15.0278 NFC East 15.5694 AFC West 20.4861 AFC South 21.4722 NFC West 22.4861

Notable Quotes

Fox Sports

The Chargers got dealt a bad hand having to play three games in 11 days. They are missing some key people in RB Ryan Mathews, WR Malcom Floyd and DE Shaun Phillips, but fortunately for them they are in the right division to be dealing with midseason struggles. A win against the Raiders on Thursday night will make for a quick rebound with the weekend to rest.

CBS Sports

Three consecutive losses has them reeling, and now they have a short week to get ready for the Raiders. They have to quit imploding.

Sports Illustrated

Amid all the questions and hand-wringing over Philip Rivers' disappointing and puzzling season, why haven't we heard more in the way of answers and potential fixes from Norv Turner, with his long track record of quarterback coaching and offensive expertise? Isn't that part of Turner's forte, the passing game and how to get it going? So Norv, a lonely Chargers nation turns its eyes to you.

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 49ers 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 2.250 0.433 Ravens 3 3 4 2 3 4 3 2 3 2 3 3 2.917 0.640 Steelers 5 4 5 4 6 6 5 4 4 6 9 5 5.250 1.362 Giants 6 5 3 6 5 3 4 5 5 11 8 6 5.583 2.100 Saints 4 7 9 5 4 9 6 6 6 5 4 7 6.000 1.683 Lions 7 11 6 9 7 5 7 8 7 4 6 4 6.750 1.920 Texans 8 8 7 7 10 10 9 9 9 10 5 10 8.500 1.500 Patriots 12 6 13 8 8 8 10 7 8 8 10 9 8.917 1.935 Bengals 10 13 10 12 9 7 8 11 10 12 7 8 9.750 1.920 Jets 11 9 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 7 11 12 10.667 1.312 Bears 9 12 14 13 12 12 12 13 14 9 13 11 12.000 1.581 Falcons 13 10 8 10 14 13 14 10 12 13 14 14 12.083 1.977 Bills 14 14 12 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 12 13 13.333 0.745 Cowboys 15 16 15 16 17 15 17 16 16 17 16 17 16.083 0.759 Chargers 17 15 17 17 15 19 16 15 17 15 17 15 16.250 1.233 Eagles 16 17 19 15 16 20 15 17 15 18 20 18 17.167 1.772 Buccaneers 18 18 20 19 18 17 18 18 18 16 15 16 17.583 1.320 Raiders 21 22 18 21 20 16 20 20 20 20 18 20 19.667 1.546 Chiefs 19 24 16 20 19 18 19 21 21 21 19 21 19.833 1.908 Titans 20 19 21 18 21 23 21 19 19 19 21 19 20.000 1.354 Panthers 26 20 23 22 23 22 23 23 25 25 26 22 23.333 1.748 Vikings 24 23 25 23 22 21 22 22 26 24 27 26 23.750 1.831 Broncos 23 21 27 25 24 24 24 24 24 22 23 24 23.750 1.422 Redskins 22 25 22 24 25 25 25 26 23 27 22 23 24.083 1.605 Browns 25 29 24 28 26 27 26 27 22 26 24 25 25.750 1.831 Jaguars 27 26 26 30 27 28 27 25 27 23 25 27 26.500 1.658 Cardinals 29 28 29 26 28 26 28 29 29 28 28 28 28.000 1.000 Seahawks 28 31 28 27 29 29 29 28 28 30 29 29 28.750 1.010 Dolphins 31 27 30 31 30 30 30 30 30 29 30 30 29.833 0.986 Rams 30 30 31 29 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 30.667 0.624 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

Packers are unanimously great. Colts are unanimously terrible. Neat.

Looks like all those comparisons John Gennaro made comparing the Chargers with the "Dream Team" were more apt than we realized

The top-12 is evenly split with 6 AFC teams and 6 NFC teams. Neither conference is too dominant.

The Chargers are dangerously close to slipping into the 20's

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000 49ers 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 2.250 0.433 Rams 30 30 31 29 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 30.667 0.624 Ravens 3 3 4 2 3 4 3 2 3 2 3 3 2.917 0.640 Bills 14 14 12 14 13 14 13 14 13 14 12 13 13.333 0.745 Cowboys 15 16 15 16 17 15 17 16 16 17 16 17 16.083 0.759 Dolphins 31 27 30 31 30 30 30 30 30 29 30 30 29.833 0.986 Cardinals 29 28 29 26 28 26 28 29 29 28 28 28 28.000 1.000 Seahawks 28 31 28 27 29 29 29 28 28 30 29 29 28.750 1.010 Chargers 17 15 17 17 15 19 16 15 17 15 17 15 16.250 1.233 Jets 11 9 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 7 11 12 10.667 1.312 Buccaneers 18 18 20 19 18 17 18 18 18 16 15 16 17.583 1.320 Titans 20 19 21 18 21 23 21 19 19 19 21 19 20.000 1.354 Steelers 5 4 5 4 6 6 5 4 4 6 9 5 5.250 1.362 Broncos 23 21 27 25 24 24 24 24 24 22 23 24 23.750 1.422 Texans 8 8 7 7 10 10 9 9 9 10 5 10 8.500 1.500 Raiders 21 22 18 21 20 16 20 20 20 20 18 20 19.667 1.546 Bears 9 12 14 13 12 12 12 13 14 9 13 11 12.000 1.581 Redskins 22 25 22 24 25 25 25 26 23 27 22 23 24.083 1.605 Jaguars 27 26 26 30 27 28 27 25 27 23 25 27 26.500 1.658 Saints 4 7 9 5 4 9 6 6 6 5 4 7 6.000 1.683 Panthers 26 20 23 22 23 22 23 23 25 25 26 22 23.333 1.748 Eagles 16 17 19 15 16 20 15 17 15 18 20 18 17.167 1.772 Browns 25 29 24 28 26 27 26 27 22 26 24 25 25.750 1.831 Vikings 24 23 25 23 22 21 22 22 26 24 27 26 23.750 1.831 Chiefs 19 24 16 20 19 18 19 21 21 21 19 21 19.833 1.908 Bengals 10 13 10 12 9 7 8 11 10 12 7td> 8 9.750 1.920 Lions 7 11 6 9 7 5 7 8 7 4 6 4 6.750 1.920 Patriots 12 6 13 8 8 8 10 7 8 8 10 9 8.917 1.935 Falcons 13 10 8 10 14 13 14 10 12 13 14 14 12.083 1.977 Giants 6 5 3 6 5 3 4 5 5 11 8 6 5.583 2.100

Observations:

Well, this week we see that the Bills and Cowboys are very consistently-ranked, hovering around a 13th- and 16th-place ranking, respectively. It's pretty impressive the Cowboys are so consistently ranked being in the middle of the data set.

The Chargers don't vary much either.

The Giants are all over the board now. They're the most inconsistently-ranked team, and they're ranked top-6 by many (close to one of the extremes in the data set).

Objective Average

Objective Packers 2 2 1 1 2 3 1.833 0.687 49ers 4 14 2 2 1 5 4.667 4.384 Lions 8 8 3 3 8 1 5.167 2.911 Ravens 6 10 7 5 3 4 5.833 2.267 Texans 3 1 10 12 9 2 6.167 4.298 Giants 5 9 9 16 4 9 8.667 3.859 Jets 1 15 8 8 15 7 9.000 4.865 Saints 11 7 11 6 6 13 9.000 2.769 Bears 13 13 4 4 12 12 9.667 4.028 Patriots 10 5 13 11 11 8 9.667 2.560 Falcons 7 16 5 7 17 6 9.667 4.888 Steelers 9 3 12 13 10 16 10.500 4.031 Bills 12 11 14 10 7 10 10.667 2.134 Bengals 15 24 6 9 5 11 11.667 6.421 Eagles 14 4 16 14 18 15 13.500 4.463 Cowboys 16 6 17 15 20 17 15.167 4.375 Chargers 20 12 18 18 19 19 17.667 2.625 Buccaneers 19 27 15 17 13 27 19.667 5.498 Vikings 18 25 20 22 22 14 20.167 3.484 Titans 17 18 21 19 26 20 20.167 2.911 Raiders 23 20 24 20 14 22 20.500 3.253 Panthers 21 17 27 23 24 18 21.667 3.448 Broncos 24 30 19 21 21 26 23.500 3.686 Redskins 25 19 28 24 23 23 23.667 2.687 Chiefs 27 31 22 26 16 29 25.167 4.947 Dolphins 22 23 25 28 30 25 25.500 2.754 Jaguars 29 21 23 25 25 30 25.500 3.149 Browns 26 26 29 29 27 21 26.333 2.687 Seahawks 28 29 26 27 28 24 27.000 1.633 Cardinals 30 28 30 30 29 28 29.167 0.898 Rams 31 22 31 31 32 31 29.667 3.448 Colts 32 32 32 32 31 32 31.833 0.373

Observations:

The Packers are in a league of there own here.

A distinct cluster of team groupings. 4-6, then 9-11. Some sharp deliniations.

Colts are doing a pretty good job of "Sucking for Luck ... ing"

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Colts 32 32 32 32 31 32 31.833 0.373 Packers 2 2 1 1 2 3 1.833 0.687 Cardinals 30 28 30 30 29 28 29.167 0.898 Seahawks 28 29 26 27 28 24 27.000 1.633 Bills 12 11 14 10 7 10 10.667 2.134 Ravens 6 10 7 5 3 4 5.833 2.267 Patriots 10 5 13 11 11 8 9.667 2.560 Chargers 20 12 18 18 19 19 17.667 2.625 Browns 26 26 29 29 27 21 26.333 2.687 Redskins 25 19 28 24 23 23 23.667 2.687 Dolphins 22 23 25 28 30 25 25.500 2.754 Saints 11 7 11 6 6 13 9.000 2.769 Lions 8 8 3 3 8 1 5.167 2.911 Titans 17 18 21 19 26 20 20.167 2.911 Jaguars 29 21 23 25 25 30 25.500 3.149 Raiders 23 20 24 20 14 22 20.500 3.253 Panthers 21 17 27 23 24 18 21.667 3.448 Rams 31 22 31 31 32 31 29.667 3.448 Vikings 18 25 20 22 22 14 20.167 3.484 Broncos 24 30 19 21 21 26 23.500 3.686 Giants 5 9 9 16 4 9 8.667 3.859 Bears 13 13 4 4 12 12 9.667 4.028 Steelers 9 3 12 13 10 16 10.500 4.031 Texans 3 1 10 12 9 2 6.167 4.298 Cowboys 16 6 17 15 20 17 15.167 4.375 49ers 4 14 2 2 1 5 4.667 4.384 Eagles 14 4 16 14 18 15 13.500 4.463 Jets 1 15 8 8 15 7 9.000 4.865 Falcons 7 16 5 7 17 6 9.667 4.888 Chiefs 27 31 22 26 16 29 25.167 4.947 Buccaneers 19 27 15 17 13 27 19.667 5.498 Bengals 15 24 6 9 5 11 11.667 6.421

Observations:

Wow, the Colts are actually terrible more than the Packers are good.

Cardinals and Seahawks are consistently bad as well.

Looks like the Bills are settling into their ~11th-place ranking

Sweet, the Chargers are one of the more consistently-ranked teams ... at ~18. Crap.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 1.833 1.417 0.558 0.833 49ers 2.250 4.667 3.458 2.798 2.417 Ravens 2.917 5.833 4.375 1.969 2.917 Lions 6.750 5.167 5.958 2.417 -1.583 Giants 5.583 8.667 7.125 3.165 3.083 Texans 8.500 6.167 7.333 2.978 -2.333 Saints 6.000 9.000 7.500 2.539 3.000 Steelers 5.250 10.500 7.875 td> 3.575 5.250 Patriots 8.917 9.667 9.292 2.192 0.750 Jets 10.667 9.000 9.833 3.107 -1.667 Bengals 9.750 11.667 10.708 4.125 1.917 Bears 12.000 9.667 10.833 2.878 -2.333 Falcons 12.083 9.667 10.875 3.445 -2.417 Bills 13.333 10.667 12.000 1.863 -2.667 Eagles 17.167 13.500 15.333 3.423 -3.667 Cowboys 16.083 15.167 15.625 2.636 -0.917 Chargers 16.250 17.667 16.958 1.938 1.417 Buccaneers 17.583 19.667 18.625 3.493 2.083 Titans 20.000 20.167 20.083 2.013 0.167 Raiders 19.667 20.500 20.083 2.297 0.833 Vikings 23.750 20.167 21.958 3.023 -3.583 Panthers 23.333 21.667 22.500 2.572 -1.667 Chiefs 19.833 25.167 22.500 4.112 5.333 Broncos 23.750 23.500 23.625 2.427 -0.250 Redskins 24.083 23.667 23.875 2.041 -0.417 Jaguars 26.500 25.500 26.000 2.315 -1.000 Browns 25.750 26.333 26.042 2.172 0.583 Dolphins 29.833 25.500 27.667 2.711 -4.333 Seahawks 28.750 27.000 27.875 1.500 -1.750 Cardinals 28.000 29.167 28.583 1.113 1.167 Rams 30.667 29.667 30.167 2.108 -1.000 Colts 32.000 31.833 31.917 0.229 -0.167

Observations:

This actually looks pretty spot-on ...

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Colts 32.000 31.833 31.917 0.229 -0.167 Packers 1.000 1.833 1.417 0.558 0.833 Cardinals 28.000 29.167 28.583 1.113 1.167 Seahawks 28.750 27.000 27.875 1.500 -1.750 Bills 13.333 10.667 12.000 1.863 -2.667 Chargers 16.250 17.667 16.958 1.938 1.417 Ravens 2.917 5.833 4.375 1.969 2.917 Titans 20.000 20.167 20.083 2.013 0.167 Redskins 24.083 23.667 23.875 2.041 -0.417 Rams 30.667 29.667 30.167 2.108 -1.000 Browns 25.750 26.333 26.042 2.172 0.583 Patriots 8.917 9.667 9.292 2.192 0.750 Raiders 19.667 20.500 20.083 2.297 0.833 Jaguars 26.500 25.500 26.000 2.315 -1.000 Lions 6.750 5.167 5.958 2.417 -1.583 Broncos 23.750 23.500 23.625 2.427 -0.250 Saints 6.000 9.000 7.500 2.539 3.000 Panthers 23.333 21.667 22.500 2.572 -1.667 Cowboys 16.083 15.167 15.625 2.636 -0.917 Dolphins 29.833 25.500 27.667 2.711 -4.333 49ers 2.250 4.667 3.458 2.798 2.417 Bears 12.000 9.667 10.833 2.878 -2.333 Texans 8.500 6.167 7.333 2.978 -2.333 Vikings 23.750 20.167 21.958 3.023 -3.583 Jets 10.667 9.000 9.833 3.107 -1.667 Giants 5.583 8.667 7.125 3.165 3.083 Eagles 17.167 13.500 15.333 3.423 -3.667 Falcons 12.083 9.667 10.875 3.445 -2.417 Buccaneers 17.583 19.667 18.625 3.493 2.083 Steelers 5.250 10.500 7.875 3.575 5.250 Chiefs 19.833 25.167 22.500 4.112 5.333 Bengals 9.750 11.667 10.708 4.125 1.917

Observations:

Colts would have been unanimously number-32 if it weren't for one single objective site ranking them above the Rams.

Not too much variance with regards to the Bills.

The Bengals and Chiefs may be from Cincinnati and Kansas City — respectively — but they're all over the map in their rankings.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Chiefs 19.833 25.167 22.500 4.112 5.333 Steelers 5.250 10.500 7.875 3.575 5.250 Giants 5.583 8.667 7.125 3.165 3.083 Saints 6.000 9.000 7.500 2.539 3.000 Ravens 2.917 5.833 4.375 1.969 2.917 49ers 2.250 4.667 3.458 2.798 2.417 Buccaneers 17.583 19.667 18.625 3.493 2.083 Bengals 9.750 11.667 10.708 4.125 1.917 Chargers 16.250 17.667 16.958 1.938 1.417 Cardinals 28.000 29.167 28.583 1.113 1.167 Packers 1.000 1.833 1.417 0.558 0.833 Raiders 19.667 20.500 20.083 2.297 0.833 Patriots 8.917 9.667 9.292 2.192 0.750 Browns 25.750 26.333 26.042 2.172 0.583 Titans 20.000 20.167 20.083 2.013 0.167 Colts 32.000 31.833 31.917 0.229 -0.167 Broncos 23.750 23.500 23.625 2.427 -0.250 Redskins 24.083 23.667 23.875 2.041 -0.417 Cowboys 16.083 15.167 15.625 2.636 -0.917 Jaguars 26.500 25.500 26.000 2.315 -1.000 Rams 30.667 29.667 30.167 2.108 -1.000 Lions 6.750 5.167 5.958 2.417 -1.583 Jets 10.667 9.000 9.833 3.107 -1.667 Panthers 23.333 21.667 22.500 2.572 -1.667 Seahawks 28.750 27.000 27.875 1.500 -1.750 Bears 12.000 9.667 10.833 2.878 -2.333 Texans 8.500 6.167 7.333 2.978 -2.333 Falcons 12.083 9.667 10.875 3.445 -2.417 Bills 13.333 10.667 12.000 1.863 -2.667 Vikings 23.750 20.167 21.958 3.023 -3.583 Eagles 17.167 13.500 15.333 3.423 -3.667 Dolphins 29.833 25.500 27.667 2.711 -4.333

Observations:

Ahh this seems like comfortable territory: the Chiefs are once again your most overrated team. Pittsburgh is certainly giving them a run for their money though.

Chargers are only slighly overrated still. So guess they still have more to fall.

Vikings, Eagles and especially the Dolphins are all playing better than people realize.

Sources