There's NFL regular season football being played tonight. Let that sink in a bit. As such, we're doing the NFL Consensus Power Rankings a day earlier than normal so these rankings don't get invalidated should there be an unlikely upset this evening. To make room for them, my AFC West update will come out tomorrow; and since none of the AFC West teams are playing tonight, that's not an issue.

It's week 1 of the NFL season. It seems everyone "in the know" is quite down on the Chargers to start this season. At best, we can expect the Chargers to be a mediocre team at this point. Part of the fun of looking at these rankings at the start of the year is how different a lot of the pundits think various teams are.

As you'll see in this week's rankings, the rankings are all over the map. There is some consensus at the top and bottom of the rankings, but in between, things are a bit muddled. As the season goes on, the rankings will start to fall more in line with each other.

Notable Quotes

Reddit

Key injuries are back like an unwelcome visit from your in-laws. The defense looks amazing, but troubles are back on the Oline. Hopefully increased depth will help overcome health issues.





Sports Illustrated

It's win or start over time in San Diego, and that does tend to narrow a team's focus. But the Chargers still struggle to find a sense of consistency throughout the season, and that maddening trait hasn't changed in the Norv Turner era. There's talent here, but San Diego just isn't a resilient team that's capable of overcoming much adversity. 2012 Bottom Line: The Chargers look like a third-place team that will continue to underachieve.

Ouch. Well that's kind of sobering, but pretty spot-on.

ProFootballTalk

Having a franchise quarterback and not much more makes for an interesting experiment in San Diego. It also could make for a new G.M. and head coach by next year.

... and not much more?

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking NFC East 12.1875 NFC North 13.4531 AFC North 14.9688 NFC South 15.1719 AFC East 17.1875 AFC West 18.3594 AFC South 20.2656 NFC West 20.4063

That looks about right. Plenty more after the jump!

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 1 1.500 0.982 Patriots 2 2 3 2 2 3 4 5 2 2 3 2 2 2 2.571 0.904 Giants 3 8 2 3 3 2 2 1 1 3 2 3 3 4 2.857 1.641 Texans 5 6 4 6 4 5 3 6 7 6 6 6 6 3 5.214 1.206 49ers 4 4 11 5 6 8 5 2 3 5 8 4 4 8 5.500 2.353 Ravens 6 5 12 8 5 4 6 4 6 8 4 5 5 6 6.000 2.070 Saints 11 9 9 4 7 7 7 9 8 4 7 10 9 5 7.571 2.060 Eagles 7 1 6 7 9 9 8 12 5 7 12 12 8 9 8.000 2.879 Steelers 8 15 8 9 8 6 9 10 9 9 5 9 7 7 8.500 2.228 Falcons 10 7 5 10 10 10 11 8 11 10 13 11 10 10 9.714 1.868 Bears 9 12 13 11 16 11 10 13 10 11 10 8 12 11 11.214 1.897 Broncos 13 16 10 12 11 14 13 7 12 12 11 13 11 13 12.000 2.000 Lions 12 10 15 13 13 12 12 14 13 13 9 7 13 15 12.214 2.144 Bengals 16 14 7 15 15 17 16 11 14 15 16 14 14 19 14.500 2.719 Cowboys 14 13 14 14 19 13 14 15 17 14 15 15 15 12 14.571 1.678 Chargers 15 17 16 16 20 20 19 20 16 16 22 16 16 17 17.571 2.095 Chiefs 17 11 22 19 18 19 15 21 15 19 23 20 17 14 17.857 3.182 Panthers 22 21 24 17 17 15 17 16 19 17 14 17 18 20 18.143 2.669 Bills 19 18 17 22 14 18 21 17 18 22 17 19 20 16 18.429 2.195 Seahawks 20 24 20 20 12 16 18 19 21 20 24 18 22 18 19.429 2.993 Jets 21 20 18 18 22 22 22 24 23 18 18 22 19 21 20.571 1.990 Titans 18 22 23 21 21 21 20 18 20 21 21 21 21 22 20.714 1.333 Redskins 24 23 26 23 23 24 23 23 22 23 19 24 24 26 23.357 1.630 Raiders 26 28 21 26 26 23 24 32 25 26 26 23 23 23 25.143 2.615 Buccaneers 25 19 27 27 24 27 25 22 29 27 25 26 26 28 25.500 2.471 Cardinals 23 26 19 24 30 25 27 26 24 24 31 25 25 30 25.643 3.038 Colts 32 25 29 30 25 26 28 28 32 30 20 29 27 24 27.500 3.179 Jaguars 29 31 25 32 29 28 26 25 27 32 29 30 31 25 28.500 2.471 Vikings 30 29 30 28 28 29 30 29 30 28 27 28 28 27 28.643 1.043 Rams 28 27 28 29 27 30 29 27 31 29 28 31 29 31 28.857 1.407 Dolphins 27 30 31 25 32 31 31 30 28 25 30 27 30 29 29.000 2.171 Browns 31 32 32 31 31 32 32 31 26 31 32 32 32 32 31.214 1.520

Observations:

Like I alluded to previously, the Chargers are are ranked in the bottom-half in the league, just barely above the Chiefs.

Biggest WTF of the week: Fox's Brian Billick ranking the Eagles as the best team in the NFL (and Steelers 15th).

Honorable WTF mention: SI's Don Banks ranking the Seahawks 12th.

There's a distinct grouping of where the Chargers are being ranked: either they're ~16th or ~20th. Interesting.

SportingNews has the Raiders as the worst team in the league. Have I mentioned how much I like SportingNews (this week at least)?

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Patriots 2 2 3 2 2 3 4 5 2 2 3 2 2 2 2.571 0.904 Packers 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 1 1.500 0.982 Vikings 30 29 30 28 28 29 30 29 30 28 27 28 28 27 28.643 1.043 Texans 5 6 4 6 4 5 3 6 7 6 6 6 6 3 5.214 1.206 Titans 18 22 23 21 21 21 20 18 20 21 21 21 21 22 20.714 1.333 Rams 28 27 28 29 27 30 29 27 31 29 28 31 29 31 28.857 1.407 Browns 31 32 32 31 31 32 32 31 26 31 32 32 32 32 31.214 1.520 Redskins 24 23 26 23 23 24 23 23 22 23 19 24 24 26 23.357 1.630 Giants 3 8 2 3 3 2 2 1 1 3 2 3 3 4 2.857 1.641 Cowboys 14 13 14 14 19 13 14 15 17 14 15 15 15 12 14.571 1.678 Falcons 10 7 5 10 10 10 11 8 11 10 13 11 10 10 9.714 1.868 Bears 9 12 13 11 16 11 10 13 10 11 10 8 12 11 11.214 1.897 Jets 21 20 18 18 22 22 22 24 23 18 18 22 19 21 20.571 1.990 Broncos 13 16 10 12 11 14 13 7 12 12 11 13 11 13 12.000 2.000 Saints 11 9 9 4 7 7 7 9 8 4 7 10 9 5 7.571 2.060 Ravens 6 5 12 8 5 4 6 4 6 8 4 5 5 6 6.000 2.070 Chargers 15 17 16 16 20 20 19 20 16 16 22 16 16 17 17.571 2.095 Lions 12 10 15 13 13 12 12 14 13 13 9 7 13 15 12.214 2.144 Dolphins 27 30 31 25 32 31 31 30 28 25 30 27 30 29 29.000 2.171 Bills 19 18 17 22 14 18 21 17 18 22 17 19 20 16 18.429 2.195 Steelers 8 15 8 9 8 6 9 10 9 9 5 9 7 7 8.500 2.228 49ers 4 4 11 5 6 8 5 2 3 5 8 4 4 8 5.500 2.353 Buccaneers 25 19 27 27 24 27 25 22 29 27 25 26 26 28 25.500 2.471 Jaguars 29 31 25 32 29 28 26 25 27 32 29 30 31 25 28.500 2.471 Raiders 26 28 21 26 26 23 24 32 25 26 26 23 23 23 25.143 2.615 Panthers 22 21 24 17 17 15 17 16 19 17 14 17 18 20 18.143 2.669 Bengals 16 14 7 15 15 17 16 11 14 15 16 14 14 19 14.500 2.719 Eagles 7 1 6 7 9 9 8 12 5 7 12 12 8 9 8.000 2.879 Seahawks 20 24 20 20 12 16 18 19 21 20 24 18 22 18 19.429 2.993 Cardinals 23 26 19 24 30 25 27 26 24 24 31 25 25 30 25.643 3.038 Colts 32 25 29 30 25 26 28 28 32 30 20 29 27 24 27.500 3.179 Chiefs 17 11 22 19 18 19 15 21 15 19 23 20 17 14 17.857 3.182

Observations:

Remember me mentioning that the rankings are a little more over the place to start the season? This should make that a little more obvious. There's a pretty smooth gradient from most-consistently ranked to least-consistently ranked. At the end of the 2011 season, all but 5 teams had a StdDev less than 1.5. To start the season, you can only say that about 6 teams.

Outside of that, I think the numbers speak for themselves.

Objective Average

Objective Patriots 1 1 1.000 0.000 Packers 2 2 2.000 0.000 Steelers 4 3 3.500 0.500 Saints 5 5 5.000 0.000 Ravens 7 6 6.500 0.500 Giants 9 7 8.000 1.000 Eagles 12 4 8.000 4.000 Falcons 3 16 9.500 6.500 Bears 6 14 10.000 4.000 Jets 8 13 10.500 2.500 Texans 9 13 11.000 2.000 Cowboys 14 11 12.500 1.500 Chargers 19 10 14.500 4.500 Titans 17 12 14.500 2.500 49ers 23 8 15.500 7.500 Broncos 11 21 16.000 5.000 Panthers 10 27 18.500 8.500 Lions 21 19 20.000 1.000 Redskins 20 20 20.000 0.000 Bengals 18 22 20.000 2.000 Bills 16 25 20.500 4.500 Seahawks 28 15 21.500 6.500 Colts 27 17 22.000 5.000 Chiefs 15 31 23.000 8.000 Vikings 29 18 23.500 5.500 Dolphins 25 23 24.000 1.000 Raiders 24 28 26.000 2.000 Buccaneers 22 30 26.000 4.000 Jaguars 26 29 27.500 1.500 Browns 31 24 27.500 3.500 Cardinals 30 26 28.000 2.000 Rams 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

With only 2 objective sites giving us rankings this week, there's not much to discuss at the moment. I'm just putting them here for you to see.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Rams 32 32 32.000 0.000 Packers 2 2 2.000 0.000 Redskins 20 20 20.000 0.000 Saints 5 5 5.000 0.000 Patriots 1 1 1.000 0.000 Steelers 4 3 3.500 0.500 Ravens 7 6 6.500 0.500 Lions 21 19 20.000 1.000 Dolphins 25 23 24.000 1.000 Giants 9 7 8.000 1.000 Cowboys 14 11 12.500 1.500 Jaguars 26 29 27.500 1.500 Raiders 24 28 26.000 2.000 Texans 13 9 11.000 2.000 Cardinals 30 26 28.000 2.000 Bengals 18 22 20.000 2.000 Titans 17 12 14.500 2.500 Jets 8 13 10.500 2.500 Browns 31 24 27.500 3.500 Buccaneers 22 30 26.000 4.000 Eagles 12 4 8.000 4.000 Bears 6 14 10.000 4.000 Chargers 19 10 14.500 4.500 Bills 16 25 20.500 4.500 Broncos 11 21 16.000 5.000 Colts 27 17 22.000 5.000 Vikings 29 18 23.500 5.500 Falcons 3 16 9.500 6.500 Seahawks 28 15 21.500 6.500 49ers 23 8 15.500 7.500 Chiefs 15 31 23.000 8.000 Panthers 10 27 18.500 8.500

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.500 2.000 1.750 0.933 0.500 Patriots 2.571 1.000 1.786 0.992 -1.571 Giants 2.857 8.000 5.429 2.318 5.143 Steelers 8.500 3.500 6.000 2.666 -5.000 Ravens 6.000 6.500 6.250 1.952 0.500 Saints 7.571 5.000 6.286 2.107 -2.571 Eagles 8.000 8.000 8.000 3.041 0.000 Texans 5.214 11.000 8.107 2.331 5.786 Falcons 9.714 9.500 9.607 2.888 -0.214 49ers 5.500 15.500 10.500 4.776 10.000 Bears 11.214 10.000 10.607 2.304 -1.214 Cowboys 14.571 12.500 13.536 1.793 -2.071 Broncos 12.000 16.000 14.000 2.894 4.000 Jets 20.571 10.500 15.536 3.917 -10.071 Chargers 17.571 14.500 16.036 2.721 -3.071 Lions 12.214 20.000 16.107 3.283 7.786 Bengals 14.500 20.000 17.250 3.206 5.500 Titans 20.714 14.500 17.607 2.561 -6.214 Panthers 18.143 18.500 18.321 3.909 0.357 Bills 18.429 20.500 19.464 2.686 2.071 Chiefs 17.857 23.000 20.429 4.444 5.143 Seahawks 19.429 21.500 20.464 3.686 2.071 Redskins 23.357 20.000 21.679 1.886 -3.357 Colts 27.500 22.000 24.750 3.909 -5.500 Raiders 25.143 26.000 25.571 2.562 0.857 Buccaneers 25.500 26.000 25.750 2.715 0.500 Vikings 28.643 23.500 26.071 2.761 -5.143 Dolphins 29.000 24.000 26.500 2.643 -5.000 Cardinals 25.643 28.000 26.821 3.030 2.357 Jaguars 28.500 27.500 28.000 2.395 -1.000 Browns 31.214 27.500 29.357 2.250 -3.714 Rams 28.857 32.000 30.429 1.677 3.143

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.500 2.000 1.750 0.933 0.500 Patriots 2.571 1.000 1.786 0.992 -1.571 Rams 28.857 32.000 30.429 1.677 3.143 Cowboys 14.571 12.500 13.536 1.793 -2.071 Redskins 23.357 20.000 21.679 1.886 -3.357 Ravens 6.000 6.500 6.250 1.952 0.500 Saints 7.571 5.000 6.286 2.107 -2.571 Browns 31.214 27.500 29.357 2.250 -3.714 Bears 11.214 10.000 10.607 2.304 -1.214 Giants 2.857 8.000 5.429 2.318 5.143 Texans 5.214 11.000 8.107 2.331 5.786 Jaguars 28.500 27.500 28.000 2.395 -1.000 Titans 20.714 14.500 17.607 2.561 -6.214 Raiders 25.143 26.000 25.571 2.562 0.857 Dolphins 29.000 24.000 26.500 2.643 -5.000 Steelers 8.500 3.500 6.000 2.666 -5.000 Bills 18.429 20.500 19.464 2.686 2.071 Buccaneers 25.500 26.000 25.750 2.715 0.500 Chargers 17.571 14.500 16.036 2.721 -3.071 Vikings 28.643 23.500 26.071 2.761 -5.143 Falcons 9.714 9.500 9.607 2.888 -0.214 Broncos 12.000 16.000 14.000 2.894 4.000 Cardinals 25.643 28.000 26.821 3.030 2.357 Eagles 8.000 8.000 8.000 3.041 0.000 Bengals 14.500 20.000 17.250 3.206 5.500 Lions 12.214 20.000 16.107 3.283 7.786 Seahawks 19.429 21.500 20.464 3.686 2.071 Panthers 18.143 18.500 18.321 3.909 0.357 Colts 27.500 22.000 24.750 3.909 -5.500 Jets 20.571 10.500 15.536 3.917 -10.071 Chiefs 17.857 23.000 20.429 4.444 5.143 49ers 5.500 15.500 10.500 4.776 10.000

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj 49ers 5.500 15.500 10.500 4.776 10.000 Lions 12.214 20.000 16.107 3.283 7.786 Texans 5.214 11.000 8.107 2.331 5.786 Bengals 14.500 20.000 17.250 3.206 5.500 Chiefs 17.857 23.000 20.429 4.444 5.143 Giants 2.857 8.000 5.429 2.318 5.143 Broncos 12.000 16.000 14.000 2.894 4.000 Rams 28.857 32.000 30.429 1.677 3.143 Cardinals 25.643 28.000 26.821 3.030 2.357 Seahawks 19.429 21.500 20.464 3.686 2.071 Bills 18.429 20.500 19.464 2.686 2.071 Raiders 25.143 26.000 25.571 2.562 0.857 Buccaneers 25.500 26.000 25.750 2.715 0.500 Packers 1.500 2.000 1.750 0.933 0.500 Ravens 6.000 6.500 6.250 1.952 0.500 Panthers 18.143 18.500 18.321 3.909 0.357 Eagles 8.000 8.000 8.000 3.041 0.000 Falcons 9.714 9.500 9.607 2.888 -0.214 Jaguars 28.500 27.500 28.000 2.395 -1.000 Bears 11.214 10.000 10.607 2.304 -1.214 Patriots 2.571 1.000 1.786 0.992 -1.571 Cowboys 14.571 12.500 13.536 1.793 -2.071 Saints 7.571 5.000 6.286 2.107 -2.571 Chargers 17.571 14.500 16.036 2.721 -3.071 Redskins 23.357 20.000 21.679 1.886 -3.357 Browns 31.214 27.500 29.357 2.250 -3.714 Steelers 8.500 3.500 6.000 2.666 -5.000 Dolphins 29.000 24.000 26.500 2.643 -5.000 Vikings 28.643 23.500 26.071 2.761 -5.143 Colts 27.500 22.000 24.750 3.909 -5.500 Titans 20.714 14.500 17.607 2.561 -6.214 Jets 20.571 10.500 15.536 3.917 -10.071





Sources