As we pass the quarter pole (for most teams), are we any closer to figuring out where teams should rank against each other?

I'm going to go ahead and go on record and say it: the Eagles and Lions aren't as bad as the media wants to lead you to think they are. No joke, I've been reading talk of the Lions going 0-16 again this year and that's just asinine. The Lions aren't world-beaters by any stretch of the imagination, but nor are they at the bottom of the pack, and certainly not an 0-16 team.

Two pundits have even ranked the Lions as bottom team in the league, and that's just not right. Those are pundits who are apparently going purely on record alone and not paying attention to any of the actual games. Not that many people hold either pundit in high regard, they should be rightly mocked.

Side Note: In an effort to just get these out the door, I'm presenting the following charts without my observations at the bottom. Feel free to draw your own conclusions from the data and comment below.

Notable Quotes

Philip Rivers is completing 70.7 percent of his passes and leads the NFL in passing yards (1,248). That was all without Antonio Gates (suspension), who will make his season debut Monday against the Steelers. - ESPN

I sort of feel the same way about the Chargers' performance so far as I do about the first couple episodes of the new Muppets show—pretty underwhelming but, I mean, it has to get better, right? Also, Philip Rivers and Kermit both have been around forever, are kind of awkward and make hilarious faces. - Sports Illustrated

Aaron Rodgers seemingly has sealed up another MVP trophy (OK, maybe it's a little early ...), discussion abounds about Peyton Manning and his arm, and people lament the punchless Steelers sans Ben Roethlisberger. Meanwhile, one QB continues to call plays at the line, holler incessantly and play Hall of Very Good (if not Hall of Fame) football. Philip Rivers looked fantastic again on Sunday, racking up 358 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He avoided throwing a single interception, and currently boasts a robust 105.3 passer rating on the season. Some yawn -- we take notice. #17 - NFL.com

Division Averages

Division Week 4 Average Week 5 Average Difference AFC East 10.966 12.170 -1.204 NFC West 14.818 14.159 0.659 AFC North 14.864 14.364 0.500 AFC West 14.239 15.295 -1.056 NFC East 17.159 16.557 0.602 NFC South 19.011 17.477 1.534 NFC North 18.261 17.807 0.454 AFC South 22.682 24.170 -1.488

Stock Rising

Team Week 4 Average Week 5 Average Difference NYG 18.227 12.364 5.863 STL 20.818 15.409 5.409 WAS 24.318 20.409 3.909 NO 28.000 24.182 3.818 NYJ 12.773 9.045 3.728

Stock Falling

Team Week 4 Average Week 5 Average Difference MIA 22.455 26.773 -4.318 HOU 22.364 26.591 -4.227 BUF 7.136 11.273 -4.137 PHI 14.727 18.591 -3.864 KC 14.636 18.136 -3.500

Subjective Average

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit AP Average Change in Value Patriots 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1.182 0.000 Packers 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1.818 0.182 Bengals 5 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 5 3.455 1.272 Broncos 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 3.727 0.091 Falcons 6 5 6 8 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 5.455 1.545 Cardinals 4 8 7 7 5 6 6 7 7 6 7 6.364 -3.091 Panthers 8 6 5 5 8 7 7 6 6 7 6 6.455 2.091 Seahawks 7 9 8 6 9 8 8 8 10 8 8 8.091 0.364 Jets 9 7 10 9 7 9 9 9 8 9 9 8.636 5.091 Steelers 10 13 9 12 17 12 13 11 9 11 11 11.636 -1.909 Bills 12 12 14 11 14 14 10 12 11 10 14 12.182 -4.000 Giants 15 11 13 10 13 13 15 10 15 12 12 12.636 6.364 Rams 11 14 17 13 12 10 12 17 13 15 10 13.091 6.636 Vikings 14 10 15 14 10 16 11 15 14 13 13 13.182 -1.636 Colts 16 16 11 15 16 20 14 13 16 17 17 15.546 -0.728 Cowboys 13 15 12 20 18 11 18 14 19 18 15 15.727 -4.454 Chargers 17 19 16 17 11 19 16 16 12 16 16 15.909 1.727 Chiefs 18 17 23 21 19 17 17 23 17 14 20 18.727 -4.363 Ravens 19 23 18 18 20 15 21 18 21 19 18 19.091 1.636 Redskins 24 20 19 19 15 22 20 19 18 20 21 19.727 5.182 Raiders 20 22 21 16 22 18 19 20 20 22 19 19.909 -3.182 Eagles 22 21 22 24 21 27 22 21 23 21 22 22.364 -4.818 Titans 23 18 24 23 26 24 23 24 29 23 23 23.636 0.910 Saints 21 24 25 22 24 29 28 26 22 26 24 24.636 5.728 Browns 25 29 28 30 23 21 26 30 26 24 25 26.091 0.818 Dolphins 30 25 30 32 25 23 27 22 27 25 29 26.818 -4.363 Texans 28 27 29 25 29 25 30 29 25 28 28 27.546 -3.910 Bears 29 26 20 31 30 30 31 27 24 31 26 27.727 4.273 Lions 26 28 31 26 27 32 24 32 30 27 27 28.182 -3.273 49ers 27 31 26 29 28 31 29 25 28 29 31 28.546 -1.728 Jaguars 31 32 27 27 32 26 25 28 32 30 30 29.091 -0.909 Buccaneers 32 30 32 28 31 28 32 31 31 32 32 30.818 -1.545

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective ESPN Fox CBS USA SI PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit AP STD DEV Change in Value Packers 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 0.386 -0.217 Patriots 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0.386 0.000 Broncos 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 0.445 -0.271 Bengals 5 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 5 0.782 0.337 Jets 9 7 10 9 7 9 9 9 8 9 9 0.881 -0.474 Falcons 6 5 6 8 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 0.988 -0.360 Panthers 8 6 5 5 8 7 7 6 6 7 6 0.988 -0.683 Seahawks 7 9 8 6 9 8 8 8 10 8 8 0.996 -0.975 Cardinals 4 8 7 7 5 6 6 7 7 6 7 1.068 0.206 Buccaneers 32 30 32 28 31 28 32 31 31 32 32 1.466 0.504 Bills 12 12 14 11 14 14 10 12 11 10 14 1.527 -0.222 Eagles 22 21 22 24 21 27 22 21 23 21 22 1.720 -0.511 Texans 28 27 29 25 29 25 30 29 25 28 28 1.725 -0.047 Giants 15 11 13 10 13 13 15 10 15 12 12 1.772 -1.151 Raiders 20 22 21 16 22 18 19 20 20 22 19 1.781 -0.177 49ers 27 31 26 29 28 31 29 25 28 29 31 1.924 -0.200 Vikings 14 10 15 14 10 16 11 15 14 13 13 1.946 -0.025 Ravens 19 23 18 18 20 15 21 18 21 19 18 2.021 -0.157 Steelers 10 13 9 12 17 12 13 11 9 11 11 2.144 0.008 Redskins 24 20 19 19 15 22 20 19 18 20 21 2.178 -0.633 Colts 16 16 11 15 16 20 14 13 16 17 17 2.231 -0.426 Chargers 17 19 16 17 11 19 16 16 12 16 16 2.353 0.687 Rams 11 14 17 13 12 10 12 17 13 15 10 2.353 -0.812 Saints 21 24 25 22 24 29 28 26 22 26 24 2.385 0.953 Jaguars 31 32 27 27 32 26 25 28 32 30 30 2.466 0.023 Titans 23 18 24 23 26 24 23 24 29 23 23 2.496 -0.110 Lions 26 28 31 26 27 32 24 32 30 27 27 2.552 0.123 Chiefs 18 17 23 21 19 17 17 23 17 14 20 2.666 -0.504 Browns 25 29 28 30 23 21 26 30 26 24 25 2.778 0.387 Cowboys 13 15 12 20 18 11 18 14 19 18 15 2.895 1.081 Dolphins 30 25 30 32 25 23 27 22 27 25 29 3.010 -0.163 Bears 29 26 20 31 30 30 31 27 24 31 26 3.360 3.360

Objective Average

Objective FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 FPI Average Change in Value Patriots 1 1 2 1 3 1 7 1 3 1 1 2.000 -0.182 Packers 2 2 1 3 7 11 1 2 2 2 3 3.273 1.818 Bengals 4 5 6 4 5 7 2 4 4 5 5 4.636 1.819 Cardinals 3 6 5 6 2 4 3 9 5 7 2 4.727 -0.727 Broncos 6 3 3 5 4 12 11 3 1 3 8 5.364 -0.182 Falcons 8 16 7 2 6 2 8 5 6 9 7 6.909 2.455 Steelers 7 7 8 10 9 6 5 8 9 8 10 7.909 -0.454 Seahawks 5 4 4 21 12 16 12 6 8 4 4 8.727 1.000 Jets 9 10 11 8 1 8 9 10 10 19 9 9.455 2.363 Bills 11 13 10 12 14 5 4 11 11 12 11 10.364 -4.273 Panthers 12 17 15 9 8 17 6 7 7 6 15 10.818 0.182 Giants 13 18 9 7 13 3 13 13 12 15 17 12.091 5.364 Cowboys 16 15 12 15 18 10 15 12 15 10 16 14.000 -2.545 Eagles 15 9 14 22 20 9 16 20 18 14 6 14.818 -2.909 Ravens 14 8 13 20 21 15 22 14 17 11 12 15.182 2.182 Vikings 17 12 17 16 15 18 10 15 13 18 20 15.546 1.000 Chiefs 22 11 16 19 27 19 19 16 14 16 14 17.546 -2.637 Rams 10 20 20 17 19 14 17 18 19 22 19 17.727 4.182 Colts 19 14 19 18 28 22 26 17 20 13 13 19.000 -1.454 Chargers 20 19 18 23 16 24 20 19 16 17 18 19.091 0.545 Redskins 25 27 22 14 11 13 21 25 21 27 26 21.091 2.636 Raiders 18 28 25 13 17 23 18 24 22 26 29 22.091 -0.455 Saints 23 23 24 32 23 20 23 22 25 24 22 23.727 1.909 Titans 24 26 29 29 10 21 14 31 29 30 21 24.000 -1.091 Lions 21 21 21 30 25 27 29 23 24 21 23 24.091 0.000 Texans 29 24 26 24 22 28 30 26 26 23 24 25.636 -4.545 49ers 32 29 28 11 32 30 32 21 23 20 28 26.000 -1.364 Dolphins 28 22 23 28 31 26 31 27 28 25 25 26.727 -4.272 Browns 26 25 27 27 29 25 24 28 30 28 27 26.909 -1.363 Bears 30 30 30 25 26 31 27 29 27 29 31 28.636 1.273 Jaguars 27 31 31 26 24 29 28 30 31 31 30 28.909 -0.182 Buccaneers 31 32 32 31 30 32 25 32 32 32 32 31.000 -0.091

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 FPI STD DEV Change in Value Bengals 4 5 6 4 5 7 2 4 4 5 5 1.226 -0.745 Steelers 7 7 8 10 9 6 5 8 9 8 10 1.505 0.429 Browns 26 25 27 27 29 25 24 28 30 28 27 1.730 -1.326 Patriots 1 1 2 1 3 1 7 1 3 1 1 1.758 0.566 Bears 30 30 30 25 26 31 27 29 27 29 31 1.967 0.524 Buccaneers 31 32 32 31 30 32 25 32 32 32 32 2.000 0.379 Cardinals 3 6 5 6 2 4 3 9 5 7 2 2.093 -0.281 Jaguars 27 31 31 26 24 29 28 30 31 31 30 2.275 -2.772 Texans 29 24 26 24 22 28 30 26 26 23 24 2.422 -1.080 Chargers 20 19 18 23 16 24 20 19 16 17 18 2.466 -1.209 Cowboys 16 15 12 15 18 10 15 12 15 10 16 2.486 -2.997 Dolphins 28 22 23 28 31 26 31 27 28 25 25 2.766 -0.407 Vikings 17 12 17 16 15 18 10 15 13 18 20 2.808 -1.890 Saints 23 23 24 32 23 20 23 22 25 24 22 2.895 -0.006 Packers 2 2 1 3 7 11 1 2 2 2 3 2.895 -0.448 Bills 11 13 10 12 14 5 4 11 11 12 11 2.963 0.812 Rams 10 20 20 17 19 14 17 18 19 22 19 3.136 -0.874 Lions 21 21 21 30 25 27 29 23 24 21 23 3.147 0.179 Broncos 6 3 3 5 4 12 11 3 1 3 8 3.392 -0.465 Falcons 8 16 7 2 6 2 8 5 6 9 7 3.604 -1.207 Jets 9 10 11 8 1 8 9 10 10 19 9 3.940 -0.708 Giants 13 18 9 7 13 3 13 13 12 15 17 4.144 -0.475 Chiefs 22 11 16 19 27 19 19 16 14 16 14 4.164 -0.438 Ravens 14 8 13 20 21 15 22 14 17 11 12 4.196 0.328 Panthers 12 17 15 9 8 17 6 7 7 6 15 4.260 -0.411 Colts 19 14 19 18 28 22 26 17 20 13 13 4.690 -1.406 Raiders 18 28 25 13 17 23 18 24 22 26 29 4.795 -0.164 Eagles 15 9 14 22 20 9 16 20 18 14 6 4.896 1.119 Seahawks 5 4 4 21 12 16 12 6 8 4 4 5.528 -1.428 Redskins 25 27 22 14 11 13 21 25 21 27 26 5.583 -0.011 49ers 32 29 28 11 32 30 32 21 23 20 28 6.296 0.603 Titans 24 26 29 29 10 21 14 31 29 30 21 6.592 -0.407

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Average Change in Value Patriots 1.182 2.000 1.591 -0.091 Packers 1.818 3.273 2.545 1.000 Bengals 3.455 4.636 4.045 1.546 Broncos 3.727 5.364 4.545 -0.045 Cardinals 6.364 4.727 5.545 -1.909 Falcons 5.455 6.909 6.182 2.000 Seahawks 8.091 8.727 8.409 0.682 Panthers 6.455 10.818 8.636 1.137 Jets 8.636 9.455 9.045 3.728 Steelers 11.636 7.909 9.773 -1.182 Bills 12.182 10.364 11.273 -4.137 Giants 12.636 12.091 12.364 5.863 Vikings 13.182 15.546 14.364 -0.318 Cowboys 15.727 14.000 14.864 -3.500 Rams 13.091 17.727 15.409 5.409 Ravens 19.091 15.182 17.136 1.909 Colts 15.546 19.000 17.273 -1.091 Chargers 15.909 19.091 17.500 1.136 Chiefs 18.727 17.546 18.136 -3.500 Eagles 22.364 14.818 18.591 -3.864 Redskins 19.727 21.091 20.409 3.909 Raiders 19.909 22.091 21.000 -1.818 Titans 23.636 24.000 23.818 -0.091 Saints 24.636 23.727 24.182 3.818 Lions 28.182 24.091 26.136 -1.636 Browns 26.091 26.909 26.500 -0.273 Texans 27.546 25.636 26.591 -4.227 Dolphins 26.818 26.727 26.773 -4.318 49ers 28.546 26.000 27.273 -1.546 Bears 27.727 28.636 28.182 2.773 Jaguars 29.091 28.909 29.000 -0.545 Buccaneers 30.818 31.000 30.909 -0.818

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg STD DEV Change in Value Bengals 3.455 4.636 1.186 -0.484 Patriots 1.182 2.000 1.337 0.395 Buccaneers 30.818 31.000 1.756 0.192 Cardinals 6.364 4.727 1.852 0.029 Packers 1.818 3.273 2.189 -0.667 Texans 27.546 25.636 2.309 -0.744 Browns 26.091 26.909 2.350 -0.477 Jaguars 29.091 28.909 2.374 -1.600 Bills 12.182 10.364 2.526 0.304 Broncos 3.727 5.364 2.554 -0.302 Steelers 11.636 7.909 2.627 0.590 Vikings 13.182 15.546 2.689 -1.696 Saints 24.636 23.727 2.691 -0.598 Falcons 5.455 6.909 2.741 -0.984 Bears 27.727 28.636 2.790 1.329 Cowboys 15.727 14.000 2.833 -1.252 Jets 8.636 9.455 2.884 -0.670 Chargers 15.909 19.091 2.888 -0.135 Dolphins 26.818 26.727 2.891 -0.282 Giants 12.636 12.091 3.199 -0.743 Lions 28.182 24.091 3.520 0.777 Chiefs 18.727 17.546 3.546 -0.415 Rams 13.091 17.727 3.614 -0.160 Raiders 19.909 22.091 3.778 -0.721 Panthers 6.455 10.818 3.785 0.069 Ravens 19.091 15.182 3.829 0.268 Seahawks 8.091 8.727 3.985 -1.166 Colts 15.546 19.000 4.059 -0.837 Redskins 19.727 21.091 4.292 -0.174 49ers 28.546 26.000 4.826 0.393 Titans 23.636 24.000 4.988 -0.356 Eagles 22.364 14.818 5.263 1.072

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Subj Avg Obj Avg Diff. in Avg Change in Value Rams 13.091 17.727 4.636 2.454 Panthers 6.455 10.818 4.364 1.909 Colts 15.546 19.000 3.455 0.728 Chargers 15.909 19.091 3.182 1.182 Vikings 13.182 15.546 2.364 -2.636 Raiders 19.909 22.091 2.182 -2.727 Broncos 3.727 5.364 1.636 0.272 Packers 1.818 3.273 1.455 -1.636 Falcons 5.455 6.909 1.455 -0.909 Redskins 19.727 21.091 1.364 2.546 Bengals 3.455 4.636 1.182 -0.545 Bears 27.727 28.636 0.909 3.000 Jets 8.636 9.455 0.818 2.727 Browns 26.091 26.909 0.818 2.182 Patriots 1.182 2.000 0.818 0.182 Seahawks 8.091 8.727 0.636 -0.637 Titans 23.636 24.000 0.364 2.000 Buccaneers 30.818 31.000 0.182 -1.454 Dolphins 26.818 26.727 -0.091 -0.091 Jaguars 29.091 28.909 -0.182 -0.728 Giants 12.636 12.091 -0.546 1.000 Saints 24.636 23.727 -0.909 3.818 Chiefs 18.727 17.546 -1.182 -1.728 Cardinals 6.364 4.727 -1.636 -2.363 Cowboys 15.727 14.000 -1.727 -1.909 Bills 12.182 10.364 -1.818 0.273 Texans 27.546 25.636 -1.909 0.637 49ers 28.546 26.000 -2.546 -0.364 Steelers 11.636 7.909 -3.727 -1.454 Ravens 19.091 15.182 -3.909 -0.545 Lions 28.182 24.091 -4.091 -3.273 Eagles 22.364 14.818 -7.545 -1.909

Sources