After taking the bye week to get away from football, much like the Chargers, the Power Rankings Consensus is back!

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Welcome back from bye week. Has everybody eaten? Good. Everybody sober? Close enough.

For us Chargers fans, it has not been the best of seasons. This is the first time the Chargers have been 2-7 since the disastrous 2003 season that netted San Diego the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Well, things weren't all that bad in that 2004 draft. For too long, the Chargers have been just bad enough to miss the playoffs, but just good enough to select in the middle of each round in the NFL drafts. Those years of mid-round picks are finally coming back to haunt the team and the lack of breakout talent is showing.

I don't know about you, but I'm certainly down with the tank.

I'm usually one of the more optimistic Chargers fans out there, and even I'm not fooled this year. This is not a great team, and the rankings bear that out. Coaching is uninspired, and the team seems practically incapable of developing players. I'm even more ready for a reset than I was in 2012.

With that enlightening commentary out of the way, on to the rankings!

Notable Quotes

Really odd schedule for the Chargers this season, as they'll play five of their six intra-division games between Weeks 11 and 17. So at the very least, they can try to play spoiler—the participation trophy of roles for pro sports teams. - Sports Illustrated

Tough loss for the Chargers in Week 9, but with the bye week, Mike McCoy's group had a chance to recover from myriad injuries. Shoot, McCoy had a chance to plain recover. No team needed a bye like the Chargers. Malcom Floyd didn't get much help from the bye, but he's a go with a torn labrum. Or, at least he'll give it a try. Love that dude. #gamer #respect - NFL.com

Halfback Melvin Gordon has five fumbles this year, which leads running backs. No running back has had more than five fumbles in a season since 2010. - Pro Football Focus

Division Averages

Division Week 9 Average Week 11 Average Difference AFC East 12.239 10.293 1.946 NFC West 13.773 15.380 -1.607 AFC West 14.227 15.696 -1.469 NFC North 18.034 15.793 2.241 NFC South 14.091 16.022 -1.931 AFC North 15.170 16.620 -1.450 NFC East 18.239 18.554 -0.315 AFC South 26.227 23.641 2.586

Stock Rising

Team Week 9 Average Week 11 Average Difference BUF 17.142 9.970 7.172 CHI 26.067 19.557 6.510 HOU 25.517 20.742 4.775 KC 16.308 11.576 4.732 MIN 11.025 7.739 3.286

Stock Falling

Team Week 9 Average Week 11 Average Difference NO 16.042 24.345 -8.303 STL 11.533 18.735 -7.202 DAL 20.800 25.750 -4.950 CLE 26.283 30.617 -4.334 OAK 13.275 17.212 -3.937

Subjective Average

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit PFF AP Average Change in Value Patriots 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1.083 -0.083 Panthers 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1.917 2.000 Cardinals 3 3 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 3.417 2.500 Bengals 4 5 3 3 5 4 3 4 5 4 3 4 3.917 -1.417 Vikings 5 4 5 5 3 5 5 6 4 5 5 5 4.750 3.000 Broncos 7 9 6 7 7 7 8 5 8 6 7 6 6.917 -4.250 Steelers 9 6 11 6 6 8 7 8 6 7 10 7 7.583 4.584 Packers 6 11 7 8 9 6 6 7 10 8 8 8 7.833 -2.583 Bills 12 7 8 11 8 9 11 10 9 10 12 9 9.667 8.416 Falcons 8 8 10 9 18 13 9 9 12 9 6 10 10.083 -1.666 Jets 13 12 9 14 16 12 13 11 11 11 13 13 12.333 0.167 Seahawks 11 16 12 10 12 10 16 13 13 13 17 11 12.833 -3.416 Giants 10 10 14 12 11 15 10 12 15 12 22 12 12.917 2.666 Raiders 14 20 17 13 17 11 12 15 16 14 9 14 14.333 -3.583 Chiefs 15 13 15 17 10 20 22 16 7 15 19 15 15.333 5.584 Colts 17 19 13 23 14 18 21 14 18 16 18 16 17.250 3.000 Bears 16 17 18 16 15 14 19 20 23 21 16 18 17.750 8.083 Rams 21 15 16 18 13 16 24 21 14 17 20 19 17.833 -7.666 Dolphins 18 21 19 19 21 17 14 17 17 19 23 21 18.833 -1.333 Eagles 19 23 20 20 22 22 15 19 22 18 11 17 19.000 -2.917 Redskins 20 14 22 15 19 21 17 18 19 20 25 20 19.167 1.250 Texans 22 18 21 21 20 19 23 23 20 24 15 22 20.667 5.666 Buccaneers 23 22 24 24 24 23 18 22 21 22 27 23 22.750 -0.333 Saints 24 27 25 22 23 24 20 24 24 23 21 24 23.417 -9.334 Jaguars 26 24 27 25 25 25 27 25 29 27 26 27 26.083 1.917 49ers 31 28 26 32 26 27 25 26 25 26 30 25 27.250 2.833 Cowboys 27 29 28 28 28 30 26 28 31 25 24 26 27.500 -5.000 Ravens 29 32 30 27 29 31 29 27 26 29 14 28 27.583 -3.666 Lions 30 25 29 26 27 26 28 30 28 30 31 30 28.333 3.167 Chargers 28 30 23 29 31 28 31 29 27 28 32 29 28.750 -3.083 Titans 25 26 31 30 30 29 30 31 30 32 29 31 29.500 1.250 Browns 32 31 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 31 28 32 31.417 -5.750

Observations:

Ahh, the purely records-based rankings. Two undefeated teams, better put them at the top.

Patriots no longer the unanimous top team. PFF seems to think the Panthers are better.

Chargers are the third-worst team in the League? I can't really argue with that anymore. I'm not sure the Chargers could beat the Titans, or even the Browns again at this point.

The Chiefs are at 15th? I can't say I agree with that (too low)

Vikings at 5th? I can't say I agree with that (too high). I see nothing wrong with this and Minnesota is definitely the third best team in all of the NFC.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit PFF AP STD DEV Change in Value Patriots 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0.276 0.276 Panthers 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 0.276 -0.364 Cardinals 3 3 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 0.493 -0.266 Vikings 5 4 5 5 3 5 5 6 4 5 5 5 0.722 -0.442 Bengals 4 5 3 3 5 4 3 4 5 4 3 4 0.759 0.259 Broncos 7 9 6 7 7 7 8 5 8 6 7 6 1.038 0.414 Browns 32 31 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 31 28 32 1.115 -0.899 Jaguars 26 24 27 25 25 25 27 25 29 27 26 27 1.320 -0.840 Packers 6 11 7 8 9 6 6 7 10 8 8 8 1.518 0.796 Bills 12 7 8 11 8 9 11 10 9 10 12 9 1.546 -0.431 Steelers 9 6 11 6 6 8 7 8 6 7 10 7 1.605 -0.587 Jets 13 12 9 14 16 12 13 11 11 11 13 13 1.700 -0.237 Saints 24 27 25 22 23 24 20 24 24 23 21 24 1.754 0.567 Lions 30 25 29 26 27 26 28 30 28 30 31 30 1.886 1.240 Cowboys 27 29 28 28 28 30 26 28 31 25 24 26 1.937 -1.159 Titans 25 26 31 30 30 29 30 31 30 32 29 31 1.979 0.969 Buccaneers 23 22 24 24 24 23 18 22 21 22 27 23 2.046 0.441 Chargers 28 30 23 29 31 28 31 29 27 28 32 29 2.241 -0.740 Seahawks 11 16 12 10 12 10 16 13 13 13 17 11 2.267 0.561 Dolphins 18 21 19 19 21 17 14 17 17 19 23 21 2.339 -0.093 49ers 31 28 26 32 26 27 25 26 25 26 30 25 2.350 0.745 Texans 22 18 21 21 20 19 23 23 20 24 15 22 2.392 0.337 Bears 16 17 18 16 15 14 19 20 23 21 16 18 2.521 -0.715 Colts 17 19 13 23 14 18 21 14 18 16 18 16 2.803 0.840 Raiders 14 20 17 13 17 11 12 15 16 14 9 14 2.838 1.476 Redskins 20 14 22 15 19 21 17 18 19 20 25 20 2.853 0.354 Falcons 8 8 10 9 18 13 9 9 12 9 6 10 2.957 1.110 Rams 21 15 16 18 13 16 24 21 14 17 20 19 3.131 1.056 Giants 10 10 14 12 11 15 10 12 15 12 22 12 3.226 1.425 Eagles 19 23 20 20 22 22 15 19 22 18 11 17 3.291 0.930 Chiefs 15 13 15 17 10 20 22 16 7 15 19 15 3.944 1.191 Ravens 29 32 30 27 29 31 29 27 26 29 14 28 4.406 1.128

Observations:

Without PFF's 14th ranking of the Ravens, they'd actually be one of the more consistently-ranked teams in the league.

Chiefs all over the board, from 7th to 22nd, and just about everywhere in between.

Overall, subjective rankings are less consistent than they were two weeks ago.

Objective Average

Objective FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 FPI Average Change in Value Patriots 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.200 Bengals 3 6 3 2 4 3 2 3 3 4 3 3.273 -0.373 Panthers 4 8 6 4 5 4 5 2 2 2 4 4.182 2.918 Cardinals 2 3 2 19 3 2 3 4 4 3 2 4.273 0.227 Broncos 12 2 4 3 11 9 13 5 5 5 11 7.273 -3.473 Packers 9 5 5 7 7 12 11 7 7 6 8 7.636 -2.836 Chiefs 6 7 8 10 10 6 4 9 9 8 9 7.818 3.882 Steelers 7 9 9 11 6 5 7 8 8 10 6 7.818 -0.018 Seahawks 5 4 7 20 13 11 9 10 11 7 5 9.273 -1.273 Jets 8 14 13 8 2 7 6 12 12 18 10 10.000 0.000 Bills 10 12 12 6 12 8 8 11 10 12 12 10.273 5.927 Vikings 17 11 11 9 8 13 14 6 6 9 14 10.727 3.573 Eagles 11 10 10 18 16 10 12 14 14 11 7 12.091 -0.991 Falcons 19 18 15 12 9 15 10 13 13 15 16 14.091 -1.091 Giants 14 16 14 5 17 14 15 15 15 13 19 14.273 3.327 Colts 21 13 16 16 25 20 24 17 16 14 15 17.909 2.991 Redskins 15 25 20 14 14 16 18 22 17 28 21 19.091 4.109 Dolphins 20 15 17 13 28 18 23 19 20 20 17 19.091 2.309 Rams 18 19 21 15 15 19 17 21 19 23 29 19.636 -6.736 Raiders 13 24 22 22 20 17 16 20 18 24 25 20.091 -4.291 Texans 26 22 19 17 19 23 27 18 22 16 20 20.818 3.882 Ravens 16 17 18 31 24 21 19 28 24 17 18 21.182 -2.382 Bears 23 23 23 21 21 22 21 16 21 22 22 21.364 4.936 Cowboys 24 20 24 32 23 24 26 29 30 19 13 24.000 -4.900 Chargers 27 21 25 25 18 25 25 30 27 27 23 24.818 -2.918 Saints 28 27 26 30 22 27 22 24 23 25 24 25.273 -7.273 Buccaneers 22 32 30 27 26 29 20 25 26 29 31 27.000 0.300 Jaguars 25 30 29 28 29 26 29 26 25 31 27 27.727 2.073 Lions 31 26 27 29 31 31 32 23 28 26 28 28.364 0.536 49ers 32 28 28 23 32 32 30 27 29 21 32 28.546 0.554 Titans 29 31 32 26 27 28 28 32 31 32 26 29.273 -0.273 Browns 30 29 31 24 30 30 31 31 32 30 30 29.818 -2.918

Observations:

Patriots are the unanimous top-ranked team on the objective list.

BeatGraphs does not like something about the Cardinals and Seahawks compared to all the other statistical rankings.

Two weeks later, the Jets haven't moved on the objective board at all. There's something to be said about consistency I guess.

On the subjective board, 2 of 12 rankers have the Chiefs in their top 10. On the objective board, all 11 ratings have the Chiefs in the top 10.

have the Chiefs in the top 10. Chiefs are within 0.545 spots of the Broncos.

On the subjective board, 8 of 12 rankers had the Vikings 5th. Two 4th, one 6th, one 3rd (!). On the objective side of things, two have the Vikings at 6th, one 8th, and two 9th. The remaining 6 rankings have the Vikings out of the top 10.

Chargers not the third-worst team on this list, but it's not that much better.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 FPI STD DEV Change in Value Patriots 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.600 Bengals 3 6 3 2 4 3 2 3 3 4 3 1.052 0.008 Steelers 7 9 9 11 6 5 7 8 8 10 6 1.749 -0.084 Panthers 4 8 6 4 5 4 5 2 2 2 4 1.749 -0.009 Chiefs 6 7 8 10 10 6 4 9 9 8 9 1.800 -0.885 Bears 23 23 23 21 21 22 21 16 21 22 22 1.872 -2.252 Jaguars 25 30 29 28 29 26 29 26 25 31 27 1.958 -0.314 Browns 30 29 31 24 30 30 31 31 32 30 30 1.992 -0.556 Bills 10 12 12 6 12 8 8 11 10 12 12 2.004 -0.311 Packers 9 5 5 7 7 12 11 7 7 6 8 2.144 0.895 Titans 29 31 32 26 27 28 28 32 31 32 26 2.300 -0.564 Saints 28 27 26 30 22 27 22 24 23 25 24 2.453 -0.613 Lions 31 26 27 29 31 31 32 23 28 26 28 2.638 -0.276 Falcons 19 18 15 12 9 15 10 13 13 15 16 2.937 -0.225 Eagles 11 10 10 18 16 10 12 14 14 11 7 2.999 -0.391 Chargers 27 21 25 25 18 25 25 30 27 27 23 3.099 1.077 Giants 14 16 14 5 17 14 15 15 15 13 19 3.333 0.642 Vikings 17 11 11 9 8 13 14 6 6 9 14 3.360 -1.951 Texans 26 22 19 17 19 23 27 18 22 16 20 3.380 1.142 Buccaneers 22 32 30 27 26 29 20 25 26 29 31 3.542 0.194 49ers 32 28 28 23 32 32 30 27 29 21 32 3.577 0.698 Raiders 13 24 22 22 20 17 16 20 18 24 25 3.604 -1.942 Rams 18 19 21 15 15 19 17 21 19 23 29 3.773 0.964 Broncos 12 2 4 3 11 9 13 5 5 5 11 3.792 2.071 Dolphins 20 15 17 13 28 18 23 19 20 20 17 3.825 0.443 Colts 21 13 16 16 25 20 24 17 16 14 15 3.825 -1.124 Jets 8 14 13 8 2 7 6 12 12 18 10 4.200 -1.866 Seahawks 5 4 7 20 13 11 9 10 11 7 5 4.371 2.005 Redskins 15 25 20 14 14 16 18 22 17 28 21 4.379 0.511 Cardinals 2 3 2 19 3 2 3 4 4 3 2 4.712 2.377 Ravens 16 17 18 31 24 21 19 28 24 17 18 4.726 0.281 Cowboys 24 20 24 32 23 24 26 29 30 19 13 5.152 1.116

Observations:

Take BeatGraphs out, and the Cardinals are actually the second-most consistently ranked team (0.789). Followed by the Browns (0.843), then Bengals and Steelers.

The consistency is fairly evenly distributed between the conferences (with a slight nod to the AFC being more consistently ranked).

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Average Change in Value Patriots 1.083 1.000) 1.042 0.058 Panthers 1.917 4.182 3.049 2.459 Bengals 3.917 3.273 3.595 -0.895 Cardinals 3.417 4.273 3.845 1.363 Broncos 6.917 7.273 7.095 -3.862 Steelers 7.583 7.818 7.701 2.282 Packers 7.833 7.636 7.735 -2.710 Vikings 4.750 10.727 7.739 3.286 Bills 9.667 10.273 9.970 7.172 Seahawks 12.833 9.273 11.053 -2.345 Jets 12.333 10.000 11.167 0.083 Chiefs 15.333 7.818 11.576 4.732 Falcons 10.083 14.091 12.087 -1.379 Giants 12.917 14.273 13.595 2.997 Eagles 19.000 12.091 15.545 -1.953 Raiders 14.333 20.091 17.212 -3.937 Colts 17.250 17.909 17.580 2.995 Rams 17.833 19.636 18.735 -7.202 Dolphins 18.833 19.091 18.962 0.488 Redskins 19.167 19.091 19.129 2.679 Bears 17.750 21.364 19.557 6.510 Texans 20.667 20.818 20.742 4.775 Saints 23.417 25.273 24.345 -8.303 Ravens 27.583 21.182 24.383 -3.025 Buccaneers 22.750 27.000 24.875 -0.017 Cowboys 27.500 24.000 25.750 -4.950 Chargers 28.750 24.818 26.784 -3.001 Jaguars 26.083 27.727 26.905 1.995 49ers 27.250 28.546 27.898 1.694 Lions 28.333 28.364 28.348 1.852 Titans 29.500 29.273 29.386 0.489 Browns 31.417 29.818 30.617 -4.334

Observations:

Overall, the top 12 teams are split 7-5 in favor of AFC teams.

Packers edge the Vikings out by just 0.004 spots; it's razor thin between those two teams.

Distinct clusters of the top 4 teams, then down to the Giants, Eagles, Raiders down to the Texans. Then the bottom of the barrel starting with the Saints.

Overall, Chargers fourth-worst team in the AFC.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg STD DEV Change in Value Patriots 1.083 1.000 0.204 -0.213 Bengals 3.917 3.273 0.966 0.147 Panthers 1.917 4.182 1.668 -0.367 Steelers 7.583 7.818 1.679 -1.300 Browns 31.417 29.818 1.784 -0.570 Bills 9.667 10.273 1.805 -0.529 Packers 7.833 7.636 1.847 0.825 Jaguars 26.083 27.727 1.849 -0.537 Titans 29.500 29.273 2.142 -0.104 Lions 28.333 28.364 2.277 -0.124 Saints 23.417 25.273 2.311 -0.663 Broncos 6.917 7.273 2.733 1.363 Bears 17.750 21.364 2.872 -0.802 Texans 20.667 20.818 2.908 0.618 49ers 27.250 28.546 3.069 0.742 Dolphins 18.833 19.091 3.141 -0.352 Cardinals 3.417 4.273 3.306 1.492 Chargers 28.750 24.818 3.327 0.129 Giants 12.917 14.273 3.347 0.884 Colts 17.250 17.909 3.347 -0.305 Jets 12.333 10.000 3.362 -1.146 Buccaneers 22.750 27.000 3.563 0.040 Falcons 10.083 14.091 3.563 0.155 Rams 17.833 19.636 3.568 0.777 Redskins 19.167 19.091 3.663 0.181 Vikings 4.750 10.727 3.819 -1.100 Seahawks 12.833 9.273 3.871 1.719 Cowboys 27.500 24.000 4.208 0.271 Raiders 14.333 20.091 4.323 -0.294 Eagles 19.000 12.091 4.676 0.878 Chiefs 15.333 7.818 4.874 -0.462 Ravens 27.583 21.182 5.571 0.952





Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Diff. in Avg Change in Value Vikings 4.750 10.727 5.977 -0.573 Raiders 14.333 20.091 5.758 0.708 Buccaneers 22.750 27.000 4.250 -0.633 Falcons 10.083 14.091 4.008 -0.575 Bears 17.750 21.364 3.614 3.147 Panthers 1.917 4.182 2.265 -0.918 Saints 23.417 25.273 1.856 -2.061 Rams 17.833 19.636 1.803 -0.930 Jaguars 26.083 27.727 1.644 -0.156 Giants 12.917 14.273 1.356 -0.661 49ers 27.250 28.546 1.296 2.279 Cardinals 3.417 4.273 0.856 2.273 Colts 17.250 17.909 0.659 0.009 Bills 9.667 10.273 0.606 2.489 Broncos 6.917 7.273 0.356 -0.777 Dolphins 18.833 19.091 0.258 -3.642 Steelers 7.583 7.818 0.235 4.602 Texans 20.667 20.818 0.152 1.785 Lions 28.333 28.364 0.030 2.630 Redskins 19.167 19.091 -0.076 -2.859 Patriots 1.083 1.000 -0.083 -0.283 Packers 7.833 7.636 -0.197 0.253 Titans 29.500 29.273 -0.227 1.523 Bengals 3.917 3.273 -0.644 -1.044 Browns 31.417 29.818 -1.599 -2.832 Jets 12.333 10.000 -2.333 0.167 Cowboys 27.500 24.000 -3.500 -0.100 Seahawks 12.833 9.273 -3.561 -2.144 Chargers 28.750 24.818 -3.932 -0.165 Ravens 27.583 21.182 -6.402 -1.285 Eagles 19.000 12.091 -6.909 -1.926 Chiefs 15.333 7.818 -7.515 1.702

Observations:

[Insert non-offensive Vikings observation here]

10 of the top 12 teams whose subjective average is higher than their objective average are NFC teams. Though in fairness, the Cardinals' discrepancy is less than 1 spot.

Panthers may not be the second-best (or best if you're PFF) team in the league?

Chargers are surprisingly under-ranked according to their statistics. I'm not sure I care or that it matters anymore.

Ravens and Eagles continue to be among the supremely under-ranked teams.

The Chiefs continue to be undervalued among the subjective rankers. Football Outsiders touched on that this week, saying that DVOA liked the Chiefs, even in their losses, and that it should be no surprise that Kansas City has been able to rattle off a three-game win streak.

Sources