Hurray! The Chargers aren't cheaters! Not that the "scandal" really had much impact on their rankings, but it's always good to see your team cleared of any wrongdoing when the evil Broncos Donkeys of Denver try to say the Chargers cheated.

Anyway, good news and bad news for the Chargers this week when it comes to the rankings. First up, the bad news: the Chargers dropped in the objective rankings this week. The good news: they rose in the subjective rankings this week. Bad news again: they now are one of the most "overrated" teams in the league. Good news again: their drop in the objective rankings is really only thanks to one site (BeatGraphs).

Whew, that was quite an emotional roller coaster. On to the charts!

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking NFC North 10.0395 NFC West 14.4342 NFC South 14.5658 NFC East 16.5789 AFC North 17.6842 AFC East 17.7368 AFC South 19.5000 AFC West 21.4605

IT FINALLY HAPPENED! Now all 4 NFC divisions are ranked above all 4 AFC Divisions. Great team effort there, guys!

Stock Rising

Team Week 9 Average Week 10 Average Difference TB 20.182 14.636 5.546 IND 17.182 11.909 5.273 NO 24.000 19.273 4.727 CAR 29.909 26.182 3.727 SDG 20.818 17.182 3.636

Well, it's good to see the Chargers on the better list this week.

Stock Falling

Team Week 9 Average Week 10 Average Difference WAS 17.909 22.182 -4.273 PHI 16.727 20.818 -4.091 NYG 2.818 6.546 -3.728 MIN 12.091 15.364 -3.273 ARI 18.273 20.818 -2.545

No huge surprises here.

Subjective Average

Subjective Falcons 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Texans 2 2 3 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.273 0.363 Bears 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3.000 1.273 49ers 4 5 4 2 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3.818 0.637 Packers 6 4 5 5 6 5 5 5 7 5 5 5.273 0.636 Giants 5 9 9 7 5 6 6 7 6 6 6 6.546 -3.728 Patriots 9 8 6 6 7 7 7 6 9 7 7 7.182 -0.091 Broncos 8 7 8 9 8 8 10 8 8 8 8 8.182 0.273 Steelers 10 6 10 8 9 9 9 9 5 10 10 8.636 1.455 Ravens 7 10 7 10 10 10 8 10 10 9 9 9.091 -0.727 Seahawks 12 13 12 11 12 12 11 11 12 11 11 11.636 1.000 Colts 11 14 11 13 11 11 12 12 11 13 12 11.909 5.273 Lions 14 12 18 12 15 14 16 14 16 15 13 14.455 1.545 Buccaneers 13 11 15 14 14 15 15 17 17 16 14 14.636 5.546 Dolphins 15 17 13 20 13 13 14 13 14 14 15 14.636 -2.363 Vikings 16 15 17 18 16 16 13 15 13 12 18 15.364 -3.273 Chargers 17 26 14 15 17 17 18 16 15 18 16 17.182 3.636 Cowboys 18 16 19 16 19 23 17 18 22 17 19 18.546 -2.455 Saints 22 18 16 17 18 19 19 20 23 23 17 19.273 4.727 Eagles 21 22 20 19 20 25 20 22 18 22 20 20.818 -4.091 Cardinals 20 21 22 23 21 21 22 19 20 19 21 20.818 -2.545 Bengals 23 19 21 21 24 18 21 24 21 21 22 21.364 -1.273 Redskins 19 20 25 25 23 24 23 23 19 20 23 22.182 -4.273 Jets 25 23 27 24 25 26 24 21 26 24 24 24.455 0.000 Rams 24 28 23 22 22 20 25 25 29 25 26 24.455 -0.364 Panthers 29 27 24 26 29 22 26 27 27 26 25 26.182 3.727 Raiders 26 25 29 27 27 27 27 26 28 28 27 27.000 -1.636 Bills 28 29 28 28 26 29 28 28 25 27 28 27.636 -0.727 Titans 27 30 26 29 30 28 29 30 24 29 29 28.273 -1.818 Browns 30 24 30 30 28 30 30 29 30 30 30 29.182 -0.727 Jaguars 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.000 Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

No changes to the top team and bottom two teams. More interesting though, the Jets haven't moved at all this week; neat.

The top 12 teams are pretty well set. I am still not at all convinced about the Colts though.

Brian Billick (Fox) going against the grain here and ranking the Chargers as 26th, when the lowest any other site has them is 18th. This also means he thinks the Raiders are better than the Chargers, even though the Chargers beat the Raiders in Oakland on that joke of a football field.

Even with Billick dragging the Chargers down, they still managed to climb 3.5 spots this week.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Jaguars 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 0.000 0.000 Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.000 0.000 Falcons 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 0.000 Bears 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 0.426 -0.626 Texans 2 2 3 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0.617 -0.026 Seahawks 12 13 12 11 12 12 11 11 12 11 11 0.643 -0.507 Broncos 8 7 8 9 8 8 10 8 8 8 8 0.716 0.218 49ers 4 5 4 2 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 0.716 -0.175 Packers 6 4 5 5 6 5 5 5 7 5 5 0.750 0.236 Colts 11 14 11 13 11 11 12 12 11 13 12 0.996 -3.200 Patriots 9 8 6 6 7 7 7 6 9 7 7 1.029 0.515 Raiders 26 25 29 27 27 27 27 26 28 28 27 1.045 0.066 Bills 28 29 28 28 26 29 28 28 25 27 28 1.150 -0.631 Ravens 7 10 7 10 10 10 8 10 10 9 9 1.164 0.393 Cardinals 20 21 22 23 21 21 22 19 20 19 21 1.192 -1.147 Giants 5 9 9 7 5 6 6 7 6 6 6 1.305 0.472 Jets 25 23 27 24 25 26 24 21 26 24 24 1.559 0.000 Steelers 10 6 10 8 9 9 9 9 5 10 10 1.611 1.323 Buccaneers 13 11 15 14 14 15 15 17 17 16 14 1.666 -1.767 Lions 14 12 18 12 15 14 16 14 16 15 13 1.725 -0.761 Browns 30 24 30 30 28 30 30 29 30 30 30 1.749 0.190 Bengals 23 19 21 21 24 18 21 24 21 21 22 1.772 -0.009 Eagles 21 22 20 19 20 25 20 22 18 22 20 1.800 -0.460 Titans 27 30 26 29 30 28 29 30 24 29 29 1.814 -0.247 Vikings 16 15 17 18 16 16 13 15 13 12 18 1.920 1.127 Panthers 29 27 24 26 29 22 26 27 27 26 25 1.946 1.658 Dolphins 15 17 13 20 13 13 14 13 14 14 15 2.057 0.637 Cowboys 18 16 19 16 19 23 17 18 22 17 19 2.148 -0.630 Redskins 19 20 25 25 23 24 23 23 19 20 23 2.167 0.491 Saints 22 18 16 17 18 19 19 20 23 23 17 2.339 -0.219 Rams 24 28 23 22 22 20 25 25 29 25 26 2.536 0.070 Chargers 17 26 14 15 17 17 18 16 15 18 16 3.040 0.383

Observations:

Not all that surprised that the Chargers are at the bottom of this list considering Billick's rankings.

Oh hey another neat thing about the Jets: their standard deviation remained the same this week as well. That means, across all 11 subjective rankings sites this week, their rankings stayed the same. I don't think that's ever happened.

Remember when I said the top 12 was pretty well set? I was right.

Objective Average

Objective 49ers 1 2 5 3 1 4 2 2 2.500 0.125 Texans 8 3 3 1 3 1 4 1 3.000 -0.125 Bears 5 12 1 2 6 3 1 4 4.250 1.875 Falcons 9 6 2 6 5 5 8 3 5.500 -0.375 Packers 3 9 4 7 2 8 7 5 5.625 1.375 Broncos 4 1 6 4 10 12 5 6 6.000 -1.000 Patriots 2 11 7 5 7 2 3 12 6.125 0.000 Giants 7 7 8 8 9 7 6 8 7.500 -2.250 Seahawks 6 5 11 9 8 14 9 7 8.625 2.250 Steelers 10 14 9 10 13 9 12 11 11.000 2.125 Ravens 12 22 10 13 4 11 14 9 11.875 1.375 Buccaneers 14 16 16 11 14 6 10 10 12.125 3.250 Cowboys 11 8 14 12 11 18 11 22 13.375 0.875 Dolphins 13 13 15 14 22 13 13 13 14.500 -4.375 Lions 16 10 13 17 21 10 16 18 15.125 -0.250 Panthers 15 4 19 15 18 19 15 17 15.250 6.250 Vikings 17 23 20 16 15 15 17 21 18.000 -4.375 Jets 20 18 18 22 16 24 20 16 19.250 0.875 Redskins 19 17 24 19 27 17 18 20 20.125 -2.500 Cardinals 22 25 23 23 20 21 19 14 20.875 -2.625 Saints 18 28 17 20 28 16 21 24 21.500 3.500 Rams 21 15 21 18 24 28 23 23 21.625 0.000 Eagles 26 20 25 26 25 22 24 15 22.875 -2.875 Colts 28 26 12 25 12 27 26 28 23.000 1.625 Chargers 24 24 26 21 29 20 22 19 23.125 -1.000 Bengals 23 19 29 24 23 25 25 25 24.125 0.625 Raiders 27 21 28 28 30 26 28 27 26.875 -3.125 Bills 25 29 27 27 17 32 29 30 27.000 0.125 Browns 29 27 30 29 26 23 27 26 27.125 -0.625 Titans 31 30 22 30 19 29 31 31 27.875 -0.500 Jaguars 30 31 31 31 31 30 30 29 30.375 -0.250 Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 31.875 0.000

Observations:

So I mentioned the Chargers actually went down in the Objective rankings this week. It's not all bad news though, the biggest reason for this is BeatGraphs dropped the Chargers from 13th to 29th. 5 of the 9 objective sources actually raised the Chargers this week. So think of it as a "market correction".

The 9 bottom teams in objective average are all AFC teams. And sadly, that includes the Chargers now.

The top 12 teams are relatively even: 7 NFC and 5 AFC teams; it's not as lopsided at the top as it used to be.

Oh hey cool, the Patriots objective average didn't change at all this week, just like the Jets.

Last week it was BeatGraphs, this week it's Troy Aikman keeping the Chiefs from being a unanimous worst team.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 0.331 0.000 Jaguars 30 31 31 31 31 30 30 29 0.696 -0.357 Giants 7 7 8 8 9 7 6 8 0.866 -1.720 49ers 1 2 5 3 1 4 2 2 1.323 -0.086 Steelers 10 14 9 10 13 9 12 11 1.732 -1.712 Browns 29 27 30 29 26 23 27 26 2.088 0.088 Texans 8 3 3 1 3 1 4 1 2.179 0.416 Falcons 9 6 2 6 5 5 8 3 2.179 0.091 Packers 3 9 4 7 2 8 7 5 2.342 0.163 Raiders 27 21 28 28 30 26 28 27 2.472 -1.261 Bengals 23 19 29 24 23 25 25 25 2.619 1.140 Jets 20 18 18 22 16 24 20 16 2.634 0.607 Seahawks 6 5 11 9 8 14 9 7 2.690 -0.287 Vikings 17 23 20 16 15 15 17 21 2.784 -2.530 Dolphins 13 13 15 14 22 13 13 13 2.916 1.989 Chargers 24 24 26 21 29 20 22 19 3.100 -1.214 Cardinals 22 25 23 23 20 21 19 14 3.140 -1.517 Buccaneers 14 16 16 11 14 6 10 10 3.257 -3.724 Broncos 4 1 6 4 10 12 5 6 3.279 0.000 Redskins 19 17 24 19 27 17 18 20 3.333 -0.440 Bears 5 12 1 2 6 3 1 4 3.382 -0.204 Eagles 26 20 25 26 25 22 24 15 3.551 0.311 Patriots 2 11 7 5 7 2 3 12 3.621 0.070 Lions 16 10 13 17 21 10 16 18 3.621 0.817 Rams 21 15 21 18 24 28 23 23 3.672 0.592 Cowboys 11 8 14 12 11 18 11 22 4.241 0.972 Bills 25 29 27 27 17 32 29 30 4.272 1.904 Titans 31 30 22 30 19 29 31 31 4.371 -0.397 Saints 18 28 17 20 28 16 21 24 4.416 0.479 Panthers 15 4 19 15 18 19 15 17 4.548 -2.505 Ravens 12 22 10 13 4 11 14 9 4.781 1.290 Colts 28 26 12 25 12 27 26 28 6.423 0.100

Observations:

Unlike the Jets, the Patriots' standard deviation did not stay the same this week.

But the Broncos' did! So that just means while the Broncos moved down 1 full spot this week in the Objective rankings, they did so in unison, essentially.

Chargers are actually one of the more consistently-ranked teams. Not sure that's a good thing with their highest ranking being 20th, but whatever.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Texans 2.273 3.000 2.636 0.120 49ers 3.818 2.500 3.159 0.381 Falcons 1.000 5.500 3.250 -0.187 Bears 3.000 4.250 3.625 1.574 Packers 5.273 5.625 5.449 1.006 Patriots 7.182 6.125 6.653 -0.045 Giants 6.546 7.500 7.023 -2.989 Broncos 8.182 6.000 7.091 -0.364 Steelers 8.636 11.000 9.818 1.790 Seahawks 11.636 8.625 10.131 1.625 Ravens 9.091 11.875 10.483 0.324 Buccaneers 14.636 12.125 13.381 4.397 Dolphins 14.636 14.500 14.568 -3.369 Lions 14.455 15.125 14.790 0.648 Cowboys 18.546 13.375 15.960 -0.790 Vikings 15.364 18.000 16.682 -3.824 Colts 11.909 23.000 17.455 3.448 Chargers 17.182 23.125 20.153 1.319 Saints 19.273 21.500 20.386 4.114 Panthers 26.182 15.250 20.716 4.989 Cardinals 20.818 20.875 20.847 -2.586 Redskins 22.182 20.125 21.153 -3.386 Eagles 20.818 22.875 21.847 -3.483 Jets 24.455 19.250 21.852 0.438 Bengals 21.364 24.125 22.744 -0.324 Rams 24.455 21.625 23.040 -0.182 Raiders 27.000 26.875 26.938 -2.381 Bills 27.636 27.000 27.318 -0.301 Titans 28.273 27.875 28.074 -1.159 Browns 29.182 27.125 28.153 -0.676 Jaguars 31.000 30.375 30.688 -0.125 Chiefs 32.000 31.875 31.938 0.000

Observations:

Falcons now drop to 3rd overall, behind Houston and San Francisco, and just barely ahead of the Bears.

Just look at that definite cluster of teams.

Thanks, subjective rankers, for bringing the Chargers up out of the cellar!

Chiefs only team to have the same exact overall average this week.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Chiefs 32.000 31.875 0.223 0.000 Jaguars 31.000 30.375 0.547 -0.262 49ers 3.818 2.500 1.207 -0.246 Giants 6.546 7.500 1.234 -0.925 Texans 2.273 3.000 1.533 0.283 Packers 5.273 5.625 1.632 0.069 Raiders 27.000 26.875 1.791 -0.866 Steelers 8.636 11.000 2.032 -0.667 Browns 29.182 27.125 2.153 0.147 Cardinals 20.818 20.875 2.231 -1.276 Bears 3.000 4.250 2.303 -0.322 Seahawks 11.636 8.625 2.344 0.052 Broncos 8.182 6.000 2.446 -0.307 Dolphins 14.636 14.500 2.456 0.827 Patriots 7.182 6.125 2.531 0.146 Bengals 21.364 24.125 2.562 -0.275 Falcons 1.000 5.500 2.634 0.188 Vikings 15.364 18.000 2.663 -0.918 Lions 14.455 15.125 2.711 0.028 Buccaneers 14.636 12.125 2.759 -2.983 Eagles 20.818 22.875 2.866 -0.295 Redskins 22.182 20.125 2.903 0.139 Bills 27.636 27.000 2.924 0.872 Titans 28.273 27.875 3.161 -0.337 Jets 24.455 19.250 3.306 0.530 Rams 24.455 21.625 3.369 0.369 Ravens 9.091 11.875 3.507 0.146 Saints 19.273 21.500 3.548 0.298 Cowboys 18.546 13.375 4.094 0.964 Chargers 17.182 23.125 4.243 0.730 Panthers 26.182 15.250 6.327 0.144 Colts 11.909 23.000 6.923 0.556

Observations:

No surprise that the Chiefs have the lowest Standard Deviation, and it's the same as last week.

Chargers towards the bottom of this chart, mostly thanks to Billick.

Panthers and Colts are at the bottom of the consistency ranking, but for two very different reasons (we'll get to that shortly).

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Colts 11.909 23.000 11.091 3.648 Chargers 17.182 23.125 5.943 4.636 Falcons 1.000 5.500 4.500 0.375 Ravens 9.091 11.875 2.784 -2.102 Bengals 21.364 24.125 2.761 -1.898 Vikings 15.364 18.000 2.636 1.102 Steelers 8.636 11.000 2.364 -0.670 Saints 19.273 21.500 2.227 1.227 Eagles 20.818 22.875 2.057 -1.216 Bears 3.000 4.250 1.250 -0.602 Giants 6.546 7.500 0.955 -1.477 Texans 2.273 3.000 0.727 0.488 Lions 14.455 15.125 0.671 1.796 Packers 5.273 5.625 0.352 -0.739 Cardinals 20.818 20.875 0.057 0.080 Raiders 27.000 26.875 -0.125 1.489 Chiefs 32.000 31.875 -0.125 0.000 Dolphins 14.636 14.500 -0.136 2.012 Titans 28.273 27.875 -0.398 -1.319 Jaguars 31.000 30.375 -0.625 0.250 Bills 27.636 27.000 -0.636 -0.852 Patriots 7.182 6.125 -1.057 -0.091 49ers 3.818 2.500 -1.318 0.512 Browns 29.182 27.125 -2.057 -0.102 Redskins 22.182 20.125 -2.057 -1.773 Broncos 8.182 6.000 -2.182 1.273 Buccaneers 14.636 12.125 -2.511 2.296 Rams 24.455 21.625 -2.830 -0.364 Seahawks 11.636 8.625 -3.011 -1.250 Cowboys 18.546 13.375 -5.171 -3.330 Jets 24.455 19.250 -5.205 -0.875 Panthers 26.182 15.250 -10.932 -2.523

Observations:

The Colts led the "most overrated" list last week, and they do it again this week. And that gap even grew this week!

Thank goodness for the Colts or else the Chargers would be the most overrated team this week. Instead they'll have to settle for second place.

See how the Falcons are pretty overrated still? Said Football Outsiders: "Atlanta has the lowest DVOA of any 8-0 team during the DVOA Era. In fact, even if we included both 8-0 and 7-1 teams, the 2012 Falcons come out ranked 40th out of 43 teams."

As much as the Colts are overrated, the Panthers are now underrated. Wow, guess a slow start will really get people to just give up on you.

Sources