Hey, the Chargers won! The last time that happened, we hadn't even celebrated Columbus day yet. It may have been against the lowly Jaguars of Jacksonville, but there's one steadfast rule about winning: feels good, man.

Okay, there are those of us around here that think winning is the last the these Chargers should be doing. We need to climb the draft board as much as possible at this point, pride be damned. I don't really fall into either camp, I can certainly see the merit in throwing in the towl and making the best of a crappy situation. On the flip side, I like to win.

Anyway, what's interesting this week with regards to our beloved Chargers, despite the fact that they blew out the Jaguars, some of the subjective rankers still dropped them in their rankings &emdash; sometimes as much as 4 spots as in the case in CBS's rankings. How does one explain that? Overall, they did climb the rankings, albeit slightly. They did climb the Objective rankings a bit more.

Notable Quotes

Fox Sports

The Chargers finally played like the team I predicted to win the Super Bowl, but let's not forget it was against the Jaguars. Inside the locker room, they are still hoping to win out and make the playoffs, but that is a long shot, even for the Chargers.

SBNation

We've seen the Chargers at 4-7 turn around and qualify for the playoffs. Just sayin', crazier things have happened.

Sports Illustrated

It doesn't seem remotely fair that the Chargers could have unearthed another receiving weapon named Vincent. I mean, Vincent Jackson would be plenty enough for most teams, but now San Diego has rookie Vincent Brown to pair with him. Brown, a third-round pick out of San Diego State, has come on of late, catching 14 passes for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his past five games. Two big-play receiving Vincents just begs for a nickname of some sort.

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking AFC North 12.0441 AFC East 14.1618 NFC North 14.3529 NFC South 15.7353 AFC West 17.3235 NFC East 18.9118 NFC West 19.5147 AFC South 19.9559

Surprises

Team Week 1 Average Week 14 Average Difference SF 25.667 4.083 21.584 DEN 29.000 10.083 18.917 CIN 30.778 14.000 16.778 TEN 23.556 13.500 10.056 OAK 20.889 13.417 7.472

Disappointments

Team Week 1 Average Week 14 Average Difference IND 11.778 32.000 -20.222 PHI 6.222 23.917 -17.695 STL 17.667 31.000 -13.333 SDG 7.000 20.083 -13.083 TB 12.333 24.917 -12.584

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Ravens 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 4 2.667 0.624 Saints 4 6 6 3 2 5 2 6 6 3 2 3 4.000 1.633 49ers 3 4 3 6 4 6 4 5 2 6 4 2 4.083 1.382 Steelers 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 4 4 5 5 5 4.667 0.624 Patriots 6 2 7 4 6 4 6 2 5 4 6 6 4.833 1.572 Texans 7 7 4 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6.750 0.829 Falcons 8 10 8 8 8 11 11 10 10 8 16 8 9.667 2.249 Broncos 10 8 10 12 9 9 8 8 11 12 8 16 10.083 2.290 Cowboys 9 15 9 10 11 8 12 9 9 10 10 13 10.417 1.935 Jets 11 9 11 9 10 12 9 14 8 9 12 12 10.500 1.708 Lions 12 11 13 13 12 14 16 11 16 13 11 10 12.667 1.841 Raiders 15 12 12 14 14 10 15 12 14 14 14 15 13.417 1.498 Titans 13 13 15 15 13 13 14 16 12 15 9 14 13.500 1.756 Bengals 14 14 14 17 15 15 10 15 13 17 15 9 14.000 2.309 Giants 16 16 17 11 16 16 13 17 15 11 17 11 14.667 2.357 Bears 17 17 16 16 17 17 17 13 17 16 13 17 16.083 1.441 Dolphins 22 20 19 18 19 21 18 19 21 18 24 20 19.917 1.754 Chargers 21 22 26 19 18 19 21 18 22 19 18 18 20.083 2.326 Seahawks 19 18 22 24 20 18 19 21 18 24 21 19 20.250 2.087 Cardinals 18 21 24 22 21 20 20 22 19 22 20 22 20.917 1.552 Bills 20 19 21 21 22 24 23 23 20 21 22 21 21.417 1.382 Chiefs 23 28 18 23 24 22 24 27 23 23 19 24 23.167 2.672 Eagles 24 23 20 26 23 25 25 20 25 26 25 25 23.917 1.977 Panthers 25 24 23 25 25 23 22 24 24 25 26 23 24.083 1.115 Buccaneers 26 27 25 20 27 26 26 25 28 20 23 26 24.917 2.499 Redskins 27 25 28 28 26 28 27 28 26 28 28 28 27.250 1.010 Browns 28 30 27 27 28 27 28 29 27 27 27 27 27.667 0.943 Vikings 30 26 29 30 30 30 29 26 30 30 30 30 29.167 1.463 Jaguars 29 29 30 29 29 29 30 30 29 29 29 29 29.250 0.433 Rams 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.000 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

Is there any surprise about who the bookends are?

It's the Packers, Ravens at the top. Then the Saints, 49ers, Steelers, and Patriots all duking it out. Those four teems are within one position of each other, on average.

You'll notice CBS has the Texans in 4th, while literally every other subjective ranking has them in 7th. CBS may seem off base, but you'll see shortly, they're not off base.

The Broncos have cracked the top-10 for the first time in how many years? Here's hoping they have another epic collapse to end the season. That'd be delicious

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Rams 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.000 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000 Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Jaguars 29 29 30 29 29 29 30 30 29 29 29 29 29.250 0.433 Ravens 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 4 2.667 0.624 Steelers 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 4 4 5 5 5 4.667 0.624 Texans 7 7 4 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6.750 0.829 Browns 28 30 27 27 28 27 28 29 27 27 27 27 27.667 0.943 Redskins 27 25 28 28 26 28 27 28 26 28 28 28 27.250 1.010 Panthers 25 24 23 25 25 23 22 24 24 25 26 23 24.083 1.115 Bills 20 19 21 21 22 24 23 23 20 21 22 21 21.417 1.382 49ers 3 4 3 6 4 6 4 5 2 6 4 2 4.083 1.382 Bears 17 17 16 16 17 17 17 13 17 16 13 17 16.083 1.441 Vikings 30 26 29 30 30 30 29 26 30 30 30 30 29.167 1.463 Raiders 15 12 12 14 14 10 15 12 14 14 14 15 13.417 1.498 Cardinals 18 21 24 22 21 20 20 22 19 22 20 22 20.917 1.552 Patriots 6 2 7 4 6 4 6 2 5 4 6 6 4.833 1.572 Saints 4 6 6 3 2 5 2 6 6 3 2 3 4.000 1.633 Jets 11 9 11 9 10 12 9 14 8 9 12 12 10.500 1.708 Dolphins 22 20 19 18 19 21 18 19 21 18 24 20 19.917 1.754 Titans 13 13 15 15 13 13 14 16 12 15 9 14 13.500 1.756 Lions 12 11 13 13 12 14 16 11 16 13 11 10 12.667 1.841 Cowboys 9 15 9 10 11 8 12 9 9 10 10 13 10.417 1.935 Eagles 24 23 20 26 23 25 25 20 25 26 25 25 23.917 1.977 Seahawks 19 18 22 24 20 18 19 21 18 24 21 19 20.250 2.087 Falcons 8 10 8 8 8 11 11 10 10 8 16 8 9.667 2.249 Broncos 10 8 10 12 9 9 8 8 11 12 8 16 10.083 2.290 Bengals 14 14 14 17 15 15 10 15 13 17 15 9 14.000 2.309 Chargers 21 22 26 19 18 19 21 18 22 19 18 18 20.083 2.326 Giants 16 16 17 11 16 16 13 17 15 11 17 11 14.667 2.357 Buccaneers 26 27 25 20 27 26 26 25 28 20 23 26 24.917 2.499 Chiefs 23 28 18 23 24 22 24 27 23 23 19 24 23.167 2.672

Observations:

The only thing saving the Rams from being the worst team in the league is Curtis Painter (apologies to Wonko).

Objective Average

Objective Packers 3 3 1 1 1 1.800 0.980 Texans 1 1 4 4 4 2.800 1.470 Steelers 2 2 2 5 6 3.400 1.744 Ravens 6 7 3 2 2 4.000 2.098 Saints 7 4 7 7 3 5.600 1.744 49ers 9 11 5 3 5 6.600 2.939 Patriots 4 5 6 6 14 7.000 3.578 Falcons 8 12 9 11 7 9.400 1.855 Lions 13 9 13 8 8 10.200 2.315 Jets 5 13 11 9 16 10.800 3.709 Titans 12 20 12 13 9 13.200 3.655 Giants 11 6 20 18 13 13.600 5.004 Bengals 17 18 10 12 11 13.600 3.262 Bears 10 15 17 10 17 13.800 3.188 Cowboys 15 8 16 14 20 14.600 3.878 Broncos 18 23 8 15 10 14.800 5.419 Raiders 21 14 15 16 15 16.200 2.482 Dolphins 14 17 14 17 22 16.800 2.926 Eagles 16 10 23 21 27 19.400 5.886 Chargers 20 16 21 19 21 19.400 1.855 Seahawks 22 25 22 22 12 20.600 4.454 Bills 23 19 25 20 23 22.000 2.191 Panthers 19 22 24 25 28 23.600 3.007 Cardinals 30 24 18 23 26 24.200 3.919 Chiefs 25 31 19 26 24 25.000 3.847 Buccaneers 24 29 30 24 18 25.000 4.290 Browns 26 26 26 29 19 25.200 3.311 Redskins 27 21 27 28 30 26.600 3.007 Jaguars 28 27 29 27 29 28.000 0.894 Vikings 29 28 28 30 25 28.000 1.673 Rams 31 30 31 31 32 31.000 0.633 Colts 32 32 32 32 31 31.800 0.400

Observations:

Remember earlier when I said You'll notice CBS has the Texans in 4th, while literally every other subjective ranking has them in 7th. CBS may seem off base, but you'll see shortly, they're not off base. I told you I said that. Anyway, look at how high the Texans are ranked objectively. Two different sites have them at #1; the other 3 have them at #4, exactly where CBS placed them.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Colts 32 32 32 32 31 31.800 0.400 Rams 31 30 31 31 32 31.000 0.633 Jaguars 28 27 29 27 29 28.000 0.894 Packers 3 3 1 1 1 1.800 0.980 Texans 1 1 4 4 4 2.800 1.470 Vikings 29 28 28 30 25 28.000 1.673 Saints 7 4 7 7 3 5.600 1.744 Steelers 2 2 2 5 6 3.400 1.744 Falcons 8 12 9 11 7 9.400 1.855 Chargers 20 16 21 19 21 19.400 1.855 Ravens 6 7 3 2 2 4.000 2.098 Bills 23 19 25 20 23 22.000 2.191 Lions 13 9 13 8 8 10.200 2.315 Raiders 21 14 15 16 15 16.200 2.482 Dolphins 14 17 14 17 22 16.800 2.926 49ers 9 11 5 3 5 6.600 2.939 Panthers 19 22 24 25 28 23.600 3.007 Redskins 27 21 27 28 30 26.600 3.007 Bears 10 15 17 10 17 13.800 3.188 Bengals 17 18 10 12 11 13.600 3.262 Browns 26 26 26 29 19 25.200 3.311 Patriots 4 5 6 6 14 7.000 3.578 Titans 12 20 12 13 9 13.200 3.655 Jets 5 13 11 9 16 10.800 3.709 Chiefs 25 31 19 26 24 25.000 3.847 Cowboys 15 8 16 14 20 14.600 3.878 Cardinals 30 24 18 23 26 24.200 3.919 Buccaneers 24 29 30 24 18 25.000 4.290 Seahawks 22 25 22 22 12 20.600 4.454 Giants 11 6 20 18 13 13.600 5.004 Broncos 18 23 8 15 10 14.800 5.419 Eagles 16 10 23 21 27 19.400 5.886

Observations:

Chargers one of the more consistently-ranked teams. At least we know they're consistently mediocre.

Broncos are all over the map, with Philadelphia.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 1.800 1.400 0.644 0.800 Ravens 2.667 4.000 3.333 1.392 1.333 Steelers 4.667 3.400 4.033 1.226 -1.267 Texans 6.750 2.800 4.775 2.088 -3.950 Saints 4.000 5.600 4.800 1.819 1.600 49ers 4.083 6.600 5.342 2.281 2.517 Patriots 4.833 7.000 5.917 2.547 2.167 Falcons 9.667 9.400 9.533 2.144 -0.267 Jets 10.500 10.800 10.650 2.475 0.300 Lions 12.667 10.200 11.433 2.287 -2.467 Broncos 10.083 14.800 12.442 4.118 4.717 Cowboys 10.417 14.600 12.508 3.271 4.183 Titans 13.500 13.200 13.350 2.475 -0.300 Bengals 14.000 13.600 13.800 2.632 -0.400 Giants 14.667 13.600 14.133 3.395 -1.067 Raiders 13.417 16.200 14.808 2.237 2.783 Bears 16.083 13.800 14.942 2.353 -2.283 Dolphins 19.917 16.800 18.358 2.590 -3.117 Chargers 20.083 19.400 19.742 2.220 -0.683 Seahawks 20.250 20.600 20.425 2.989 0.350 Eagles 23.917 19.400 21.658 4.145 -4.517 Bills 21.417 22.000 21.708 1.682 0.583 Cardinals 20.917 24.200 22.558 2.908 3.283 Panthers 24.083 23.600 23.842 1.893 -0.483 Chiefs 23.167 25.000 24.083 3.177 1.833 Buccaneers 24.917 25.000 24.958 3.134 0.083 Browns 27.667 25.200 26.433 2.262 -2.467 Redskins 27.250 26.600 26.925 1.862 -0.650 Vikings 29.167 28.000 28.583 1.617 -1.167 Jaguars 29.250 28.000 28.625 0.832 -1.250 Rams 31.000 31.000 31.000 0.343 0.000 Colts 32.000 31.800 31.900 0.235 -0.200

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Colts 32.000 31.800 31.900 0.235 -0.200 Rams 31.000 31.000 31.000 0.343 0.000 Packers 1.000 1.800 1.400 0.644 0.800 Jaguars 29.250 28.000 28.625 0.832 -1.250 Steelers 4.667 3.400 4.033 1.226 -1.267 Ravens 2.667 4.000 3.333 1.392 1.333 Vikings 29.167 28.000 28.583 1.617 -1.167 Bills 21.417 22.000 21.708 1.682 0.583 Saints 4.000 5.600 4.800 1.819 1.600 Redskins 27.250 26.600 26.925 1.862 -0.650 Panthers 24.083 23.600 23.842 1.893 -0.483 Texans 6.750 2.800 4.775 2.088 -3.950 Falcons 9.667 9.400 9.533 2.144 -0.267 Chargers 20.083 19.400 19.742 2.220 -0.683 Raiders 13.417 16.200 14.808 2.237 2.783 Browns 27.667 25.200 26.433 2.262 -2.467 49ers 4.083 6.600 5.342 2.281 2.517 Lions 12.667 10.200 11.433 2.287 -2.467 Bears 16.083 13.800 14.942 2.353 -2.283 Titans 13.500 13.200 13.350 2.475 -0.300 Jets 10.500 10.800 10.650 2.475 0.300 Patriots 4.833 7.000 5.917 2.547 2.167 Dolphins 19.917 16.800 18.358 2.590 -3.117 Bengals 14.000 13.600 13.800 2.632 -0.400 Cardinals 20.917 24.200 22.558 2.908 3.283 Seahawks 20.250 20.600 20.425 2.989 0.350 Buccaneers 24.917 25.000 24.958 3.134 0.083 Chiefs 23.167 25.000 24.083 3.177 1.833 Cowboys 10.417 14.600 12.508 3.271 4.183 Giants 14.667 13.600 14.133 3.395 -1.067 Broncos 10.083 14.800 12.442 4.118 4.717 Eagles 23.917 19.400 21.658 4.145 -4.517

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Broncos 10.083 14.800 12.442 4.118 4.717 Cowboys 10.417 14.600 12.508 3.271 4.183 Cardinals 20.917 24.200 22.558 2.908 3.283 Raiders 13.417 16.200 14.808 2.237 2.783 49ers 4.083 6.600 5.342 2.281 2.517 Patriots 4.833 7.000 5.917 2.547 2.167 Chiefs 23.167 25.000 24.083 3.177 1.833 Saints 4.000 5.600 4.800 1.819 1.600 Ravens 2.667 4.000 3.333 1.392 1.333 Packers 1.000 1.800 1.400 0.644 0.800 Bills 21.417 22.000 21.708 1.682 0.583 Seahawks 20.250 20.600 20.425 2.989 0.350 Jets 10.500 10.800 10.650 2.475 0.300 Buccaneers 24.917 25.000 24.958 3.134 0.083 Rams 31.000 31.000 31.000 0.343 0.000 Colts 32.000 31.800 31.900 0.235 -0.200 Falcons 9.667 9.400 9.533 2.144 -0.267 Titans 13.500 13.200 13.350 2.475 -0.300 Bengals 14.000 13.600 13.800 2.632 -0.400 Panthers 24.083 23.600 23.842 1.893 -0.483 Redskins 27.250 26.600 26.925 1.862 -0.650 Chargers 20.083 19.400 19.742 2.220 -0.683 Giants 14.667 13.600 14.133 3.395 -1.067 Vikings 29.167 28.000 28.583 1.617 -1.167 Jaguars 29.250 28.000 28.625 0.832 -1.250 Steelers 4.667 3.400 4.033 1.226 -1.267 Bears 16.083 13.800 14.942 2.353 -2.283 Lions 12.667 10.200 11.433 2.287 -2.467 Browns 27.667 25.200 26.433 2.262 -2.467 Dolphins 19.917 16.800 18.358 2.590 -3.117 Texans 6.750 2.800 4.775 2.088 -3.950 Eagles 23.917 19.400 21.658 4.145 -4.517

Observations:

This is always my favorite chart.

It looks like the objective stats either don't account for the "Tebow factor", or they haven't caught up to how well the Broncos have been playing. My guess is it's the former.

For once, the Chargers are a little under-ranked. They're playing better than is perceived.

The opposite problem is true for the Dolphins, Texans and Eagles than what's happening with Denver: the Subjective rankers haven't caught on yet that these teams are playing decent football

Sources