The San Diego Chargers have won 2 games in a row now, and as they head into their bye week, they've climbed the rankings significantly the last few weeks.

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I was having a conversation on Twitter with a few Chargers fans about how the game against the Jaguars was sadly a statement game for the Chargers. So far this season, they've made a habit of playing to their competition, both up and down. So forgive me in feeling a bit relieved that the Chargers didn't get dominated by a terrible Jacksonville team much the same way Oakland manhandled them.

Apparently, I'm not the only one that agrees with that sentiment. The Indianapolis Colts came into Qualcomm Stadium as heavy favorites to beat the Chargers. The Chargers won the game and climbed 5.275 spots overall in the rankings. The Chargers flew into Florida as heavy favorites and handled the Jacksonville Jaguars with ease; they still climbed another 4 spots.

Notable Quotes

Believe it or not, Ryan Mathews is the only player this season to rush for 100 yards in consecutive games. - ESPN

The Chargers had the ball for 37 minutes and change during their win over the Jaguars, something that has become a trend. San Diego currently has the longest average drive time in the NFL, at 3 minutes and 14 seconds per possession. - Sports Illustrated

A methodical win over Jacksonville that featured a more balanced offensive plan to support Rivers’ impressive accuracy takes San Diego into their bye on a two-game run and a three-spot jump. - Pro Football Focus

Division Averages

Division Week 8 Average Week 7 Average Difference AFC West 11.0238 11.5568 0.533 NFC West 13.9167 12.7159 -1.2008 NFC North 15.6786 14.3977 -1.2809 AFC East 16.5595 16.9432 0.3837 NFC South 17.4524 18.3182 0.8658 AFC North 17.7976 17.3636 -0.434 AFC South 19.6429 19.6705 0.0276 NFC East 19.9286 21.0341 1.1055

Stock Rising

Team Week 7 Average Week 8 Average Difference NYJ 22.683 18.597 4.086 SDG 15.875 11.889 3.986 CAR 16.925 13.111 3.814 BUF 23.942 20.403 3.539 WAS 26.075 22.889 3.186

Stock Falling

Team Week 7 Average Week 8 Average Difference STL 21.450 25.486 -4.036 MIA 14.008 17.472 -3.464 CLE 19.650 23.083 -3.433 NE 7.592 10.722 -3.130 PHI 15.642 18.597 -2.955

Subjective Average

Subjective Chiefs 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 1.583 1.000 Seahawks 4 2 2 1 1 2 4 2 2 2 1 2 2.083 1.084 Broncos 3 3 4 2 4 4 2 3 5 3 3 1 3.083 -2.083 Saints 5 5 3 5 3 5 3 4 4 5 4 3 4.083 -0.083 Colts 2 4 7 4 5 3 5 5 3 4 5 7 4.500 2.667 49ers 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 6 6.000 0.583 Bengals 7 8 6 8 7 8 7 7 6 9 8 8 7.417 1.666 Packers 9 7 9 7 8 7 9 8 8 7 7 5 7.583 0.167 Patriots 8 9 8 9 9 9 8 9 9 8 9 9 8.667 -4.084 Cowboys 10 10 10 10 10 10 12 10 10 10 10 10 10.167 2.500 Lions 11 12 11 11 13 12 10 11 14 11 12 11 11.583 -0.916 Chargers 12 11 15 18 11 11 11 13 11 12 11 12 12.333 3.917 Bears 13 13 12 15 15 15 13 12 12 13 14 14 13.417 -3.334 Jets 15 14 13 14 12 13 15 14 16 15 13 19 14.417 5.750 Ravens 14 17 16 13 16 14 17 16 13 14 15 13 14.833 -2.166 Panthers 18 22 14 12 14 17 14 19 20 18 16 16 16.667 5.583 Dolphins 16 18 27 19 17 16 16 15 18 16 17 15 17.500 -4.083 Titans 17 15 19 16 18 21 18 21 15 17 22 17 18.000 -1.500 Eagles 19 21 17 20 23 18 19 17 19 20 20 24 19.750 -3.167 Bills 21 16 24 17 21 20 21 18 21 19 18 23 19.917 5.166 Falcons 20 23 22 24 19 23 24 23 17 22 21 18 21.333 1.750 Steelers 25 20 23 22 22 24 28 22 23 27 19 20 22.917 3.333 Browns 22 25 26 26 26 19 20 20 24 23 25 22 23.167 -3.667 Redskins 23 24 25 21 20 25 27 24 22 25 23 25 23.667 4.083 Texans 26 19 20 25 29 28 23 25 25 24 27 21 24.333 -2.583 Cardinals 24 26 21 23 25 26 26 27 26 21 24 26 24.583 -3.500 Rams 27 27 18 28 24 27 22 28 27 26 26 29 25.750 -6.250 Raiders 28 28 29 27 27 22 25 26 29 28 28 28 27.083 -1.166 Giants 29 29 28 29 28 29 29 29 28 29 29 27 28.583 2.000 Vikings 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30.000 -2.083 Buccaneers 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31.167 -0.417 Jaguars 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31.833 -0.166

Observations:

Denver finally lost their first game. Naturally that means they can't be number 1 anymore, right? Overall, yes.

The Chiefs remain the sole undefeated team left in the league. Naturally that means they're number 1 now, right? Nope. Some sites have put the Chiefs first, but it's far from unanimous.

Um ... wow ... the Chargers have quietly cracked the top-12 in many rankings. In fact, the Chargers are ranked 12th overall. That puts them in the "Playoff Caliber" zone.

Jets jumped the most subjectively this week, by almost 6 spots overall. Panthers and Bills weren't too far behind.

CBS apparently didn't get the memo about Sam Bradford

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Vikings 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 0.000 -1.320 Buccaneers 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 0.373 -0.349 Jaguars 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 0.373 -0.251 49ers 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 6 0.408 -0.351 Patriots 8 9 8 9 9 9 8 9 9 8 9 9 0.471 -0.483 Cowboys 10 10 10 10 10 10 12 10 10 10 10 10 0.553 -0.938 Giants 29 29 28 29 28 29 29 29 28 29 29 27 0.640 0.000 Saints 5 5 3 5 3 5 3 4 4 5 4 3 0.862 -0.218 Bengals 7 8 6 8 7 8 7 7 6 9 8 8 0.862 -0.743 Seahawks 4 2 2 1 1 2 4 2 2 2 1 2 0.954 0.056 Chiefs 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 0.954 0.000 Broncos 3 3 4 2 4 4 2 3 5 3 3 1 1.038 1.038 Lions 11 12 11 11 13 12 10 11 14 11 12 11 1.038 -0.336 Bears 13 13 12 15 15 15 13 12 12 13 14 14 1.115 0.356 Packers 9 7 9 7 8 7 9 8 8 7 7 5 1.115 -0.247 Colts 2 4 7 4 5 3 5 5 3 4 5 7 1.443 -0.232 Ravens 14 17 16 13 16 14 17 16 13 14 15 13 1.463 0.216 Jets 15 14 13 14 12 13 15 14 16 15 13 19 1.754 -0.621 Redskins 23 24 25 21 20 25 27 24 22 25 23 25 1.886 1.057 Raiders 28 28 29 27 27 22 25 26 29 28 28 28 1.891 -0.209 Cardinals 24 26 21 23 25 26 26 27 26 21 24 26 1.935 0.134 Eagles 19 21 17 20 23 18 19 17 19 20 20 24 2.046 0.605 Chargers 12 11 15 18 11 11 11 13 11 12 11 12 2.055 -0.148 Titans 17 15 19 16 18 21 18 21 15 17 22 17 2.236 0.913 Falcons 20 23 22 24 19 23 24 23 17 22 21 18 2.249 -0.473 Bills 21 16 24 17 21 20 21 18 21 19 18 23 2.290 0.685 Browns 22 25 26 26 26 19 20 20 24 23 25 22 2.444 0.465 Steelers 25 20 23 22 22 24 28 22 23 27 19 20 2.629 0.709 Panthers 18 22 14 12 14 17 14 19 20 18 16 16 2.779 0.816 Rams 27 27 18 28 24 27 22 28 27 26 26 29 2.948 -0.066 Texans 26 19 20 25 29 28 23 25 25 24 27 21 2.981 -0.158 Dolphins 16 18 27 19 17 16 16 15 18 16 17 15 3.096 2.234

Observations:

One unanimous ranking this week in the subjective list, and it's the Vikings at 30th.

Two sites have the Buccaneers at 32nd, and Jags at 31st. Frankly I think the Buccaneers win a head-to-head matchup each time.

All but one site had the Cowboys a unanimous 10th.

Again, take out one site — in this case it's USA TODAY — and the Chargers are one of the more consistent teams.

Oh wow does CBS hate Miami.

Objective Average

Objective Seahawks 2 1 1 3 4 3 2 1 1 2.000 0.900 Broncos 1 2 3 2 6 4 1 6 2 3.000 -1.200 Chiefs 4 8 2 8 8 1 5 2 3 4.556 -0.356 Colts 3 5 5 9 3 5 3 3 7 4.778 1.222 Saints 7 10 8 1 1 6 6 4 6 5.444 -1.444 Packers 5 6 6 4 7 8 7 7 5 6.111 1.789 49ers 10 3 4 5 5 13 4 9 4 6.333 1.867 Cowboys 9 11 9 7 11 11 9 8 8 9.222 2.978 Panthers 6 12 13 12 15 2 8 5 13 9.556 2.044 Bengals 11 4 7 10 18 14 12 10 9 10.556 0.844 Chargers 13 9 10 15 10 12 10 13 11 11.444 4.056 Lions 14 15 11 13 12 7 11 12 12 11.889 -1.989 Patriots 12 22 12 6 19 9 14 11 10 12.778 -2.178 Bears 8 18 17 14 22 10 20 15 16 15.556 -2.156 Ravens 23 27 16 11 13 15 15 17 14 16.778 -2.578 Dolphins 22 26 25 16 2 16 16 19 15 17.444 -2.844 Eagles 20 7 20 20 14 18 19 20 19 17.444 -2.744 Titans 21 17 14 18 26 20 13 14 18 17.889 -0.189 Cardinals 19 21 15 19 9 23 17 26 17 18.444 -1.444 Bills 17 23 19 21 32 17 21 18 20 20.889 1.911 Falcons 15 24 28 17 20 25 22 16 27 21.556 0.344 Redskins 29 25 18 24 17 19 24 21 22 22.111 2.289 Jets 16 14 24 27 30 21 28 22 23 22.778 2.422 Browns 25 20 22 25 16 27 25 23 24 23.000 -3.200 Texans 30 13 27 23 25 28 26 25 25 24.667 0.733 Steelers 18 19 26 22 29 29 27 24 28 24.667 1.733 Raiders 28 28 21 31 21 26 18 27 26 25.111 0.189 Rams 26 31 23 26 23 24 23 30 21 25.222 -1.822 Giants 31 16 29 28 24 31 30 31 29 27.667 1.033 Buccaneers 24 32 31 30 31 22 29 28 31 28.667 -1.067 Vikings 27 30 30 29 28 30 31 29 30 29.333 -1.533 Jaguars 32 29 32 32 27 32 32 32 32 31.111 0.389

Observations:

Seahawks dethrone the Broncos this week.

NFC edges out the AFC in the top 12 by a 7-to-5 margin.

Chargers are in the top-12 objectively as well

Though they lost yet again this week, Jacksonville's objective ranking rose slightly.

Dolphins range from 2nd to 26th.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Seahawks 2 1 1 3 4 3 2 1 1 1.054 -0.760 Vikings 27 30 30 29 28 30 31 29 30 1.155 0.078 Packers 5 6 6 4 7 8 7 7 5 1.197 -2.739 Cowboys 9 11 9 7 11 11 9 8 8 1.397 -1.316 Jaguars 32 29 32 32 27 32 32 32 32 1.729 0.525 Broncos 1 2 3 2 6 4 1 6 2 1.826 0.356 Chargers 13 9 10 15 10 12 10 13 11 1.833 -3.030 Colts 3 5 5 9 3 5 3 3 7 1.988 -0.378 Lions 14 15 11 13 12 7 11 12 12 2.132 -0.211 Chiefs 4 8 2 8 8 1 5 2 3 2.671 -0.005 Saints 7 10 8 1 1 6 6 4 6 2.833 1.044 Browns 25 20 22 25 16 27 25 23 24 3.127 0.414 Rams 26 31 23 26 23 24 23 30 21 3.190 -0.557 49ers 10 3 4 5 5 13 4 9 4 3.266 0.744 Buccaneers 24 32 31 30 31 22 29 28 31 3.266 -0.373 Redskins 29 25 18 24 17 19 24 21 22 3.604 1.146 Bengals 11 4 7 10 18 14 12 10 9 3.775 0.670 Titans 21 17 14 18 26 20 13 14 18 3.871 -0.080 Steelers 18 19 26 22 29 29 27 24 28 3.944 0.197 Raiders 28 28 21 31 21 26 18 27 26 3.957 0.520 Eagles 20 7 20 20 14 18 19 20 19 4.113 -0.684 Panthers 6 12 13 12 15 2 8 5 13 4.193 -1.196 Bears 8 18 17 14 22 10 20 15 16 4.219 0.019 Bills 17 23 19 21 32 17 21 18 20 4.358 -0.854 Texans 30 13 27 23 25 28 26 25 25 4.546 1.710 Falcons 15 24 28 17 20 25 22 16 27 4.549 1.072 Cardinals 19 21 15 19 9 23 17 26 17 4.597 1.499 Giants 31 16 29 28 24 31 30 31 29 4.619 0.213 Patriots 12 22 12 6 19 9 14 11 10 4.685 -0.958 Ravens 23 27 16 11 13 15 15 17 14 4.779 -1.806 Jets 16 14 24 27 30 21 28 22 23 5.006 0.516 Dolphins 22 26 25 16 2 16 16 19 15 6.702 0.816

Observations:

Top 4 most consistent teams are in the NFC. Next 4 are in the AFC (Chargers included)

There are clusters of conference teams together, interesting. What does it mean? Probably nothing.

Did you see the Patriots/Jets game? My how New England has fallen. Now I'm thinking about them having high draft picks this year ... *gulp*

Two sites are low on the Ravens while others are high on them. The inverse is true with the Jets and those same two sites.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Seahawks 2.083 2.000 2.042 0.991 Broncos 3.083 3.000 3.042 -1.642 Chiefs 1.583 4.556 3.069 0.323 Colts 4.500 4.778 4.639 1.944 Saints 4.083 5.444 4.764 -0.764 49ers 6.000 6.333 6.167 1.225 Packers 7.583 6.111 6.847 0.978 Bengals 7.417 10.556 8.986 1.256 Cowboys 10.167 9.222 9.694 2.739 Patriots 8.667 12.778 10.722 -3.130 Lions 11.583 11.889 11.736 -1.453 Chargers 12.333 11.444 11.889 3.986 Panthers 16.667 9.556 13.111 3.814 Bears 13.417 15.556 14.486 -2.744 Ravens 14.833 16.778 15.806 -2.373 Dolphins 17.500 17.444 17.472 -3.464 Titans 18.000 17.889 17.944 -0.844 Jets 14.417 22.778 18.597 4.086 Eagles 19.750 17.444 18.597 -2.955 Bills 19.917 20.889 20.403 3.539 Falcons 21.333 21.556 21.444 1.048 Cardinals 24.583 18.444 21.514 -2.472 Redskins 23.667 22.111 22.889 3.186 Browns 23.167 23.000 23.083 -3.433 Steelers 22.917 24.667 23.792 2.533 Texans 24.333 24.667 24.500 -0.925 Rams 25.750 25.222 25.486 -4.036 Raiders 27.083 25.111 26.097 -0.489 Giants 28.583 27.667 28.125 1.517 Vikings 30.000 29.333 29.667 -1.809 Buccaneers 31.167 28.667 29.917 -0.742 Jaguars 31.833 31.111 31.472 0.111

Observations:

Overall, the Seahawks are the new team atop the throne.

Broncos are still above the Chiefs and Colts.

Chargers are above 12th overall. This surprises even me.

Colts rose more than Broncos dropped.

3 of 4 AFC East teams are evenly spaced apart with one team between each.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Vikings 30.000 29.333 0.825 -0.392 Seahawks 2.083 2.000 0.999 -0.398 Cowboys 10.167 9.222 1.109 -1.039 Jaguars 31.833 31.111 1.220 0.283 Packers 7.583 6.111 1.362 -1.477 Broncos 3.083 3.000 1.430 0.362 Lions 11.583 11.889 1.608 -0.308 Colts 4.500 4.778 1.704 -0.397 Chargers 12.333 11.444 2.011 -1.668 Saints 4.083 5.444 2.078 0.632 49ers 6.000 6.333 2.167 0.204 Chiefs 1.583 4.556 2.396 0.299 Buccaneers 31.167 28.667 2.486 -0.474 Browns 23.167 23.000 2.759 0.413 Redskins 23.667 22.111 2.862 0.432 Bengals 7.417 10.556 2.991 0.323 Titans 18.000 17.889 3.047 0.147 Rams 25.750 25.222 3.065 -0.822 Bears 13.417 15.556 3.076 -0.250 Giants 28.583 27.667 3.096 -0.055 Raiders 27.083 25.111 3.115 0.310 Eagles 19.750 17.444 3.308 -0.223 Steelers 22.917 24.667 3.371 0.473 Bills 19.917 20.889 3.371 -0.508 Falcons 21.333 21.556 3.431 0.287 Ravens 14.833 16.778 3.455 -1.143 Patriots 8.667 12.778 3.698 -1.195 Texans 24.333 24.667 3.737 0.225 Cardinals 24.583 18.444 4.520 1.316 Panthers 16.667 9.556 4.933 -1.657 Dolphins 17.500 17.444 4.973 0.911 Jets 14.417 22.778 5.442 1.138

Observations:

The Vikings retain their crown as the most consistently ranked team, at 3rd-worst. Having watched the game on Monday against the Giants ... yeah, no argument here

Cowboys very consistent at about a 10-spot.

Chargers ranking consistency improved greatly this week.

Dolphins are the second-least consistent team in ranking, yet the difference between their Objective and Subjective averages is only .056 spots.

7 of the 10 least consistently-ranked teams are AFC teams.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Jets 14.417 22.778 8.361 3.328 Patriots 8.667 12.778 4.111 -1.906 Bengals 7.417 10.556 3.139 0.822 Chiefs 1.583 4.556 2.972 1.355 Bears 13.417 15.556 2.139 -1.178 Ravens 14.833 16.778 1.945 0.412 Steelers 22.917 24.667 1.750 1.600 Saints 4.083 5.444 1.361 1.361 Bills 19.917 20.889 0.972 3.255 Texans 24.333 24.667 0.333 -3.317 49ers 6.000 6.333 0.333 -1.284 Lions 11.583 11.889 0.306 1.073 Colts 4.500 4.778 0.278 1.445 Falcons 21.333 21.556 0.222 1.405 Dolphins 17.500 17.444 -0.056 -1.239 Broncos 3.083 3.000 -0.083 -0.883 Seahawks 2.083 2.000 -0.083 0.184 Titans 18.000 17.889 -0.111 -1.311 Browns 23.167 23.000 -0.167 -0.467 Rams 25.750 25.222 -0.528 -4.428 Vikings 30.000 29.333 -0.667 -0.550 Jaguars 31.833 31.111 -0.722 -0.555 Chargers 12.333 11.444 -0.889 -0.139 Giants 28.583 27.667 -0.917 0.966 Cowboys 10.167 9.222 -0.945 -0.478 Packers 7.583 6.111 -1.472 -1.622 Redskins 23.667 22.111 -1.556 1.794 Raiders 27.083 25.111 -1.972 -1.355 Eagles 19.750 17.444 -2.306 -0.423 Buccaneers 31.167 28.667 -2.500 0.650 Cardinals 24.583 18.444 -6.139 -2.056 Panthers 16.667 9.556 -7.111 3.539

Observations:

Jets beat the Patriots and they shoot up the board, perhaps a bit too fast.

8 of the 10 most "over-ranked" teams are in the AFC.

8 of the 10 most "under-ranked" teams are in the NFC.

Chargers are ever so slightly "under-ranked".

The Panthers remain the most "under-ranked" team but it's improving in the right direction!

Sources