I apologize for the late posting of this column, and for not doing one last week. With all the holiday festivites and family visiting us, I didn't have much time to focus on the column as I usually do. Sadly, this is likely to be the last Power Rankings post for the season. I may do one following the draft, I'll just have to see how many sites put out their rankings.

Well, what an eventful week in Chargers land. Or more accurately, an uneventful week as so far there's really only been one major change on the team. We're sure there's more change coming, but we just don't know when or how.

Based on what fans in San Diego are saying, as well as the various pundits, you'd think this team was in shambles, on the verge of collapse. There are screams demanding wholesale changes and overhaul to this team. As you're going to see, things aren't quite as bad as it may seem. For instance, according to Football Outsiders, the Chargers still have a 7th-ranked offense. But this year their defense dropped to 29th. Their Special Teams improved to 23rd, but at just a -1.2% rating, they're not far from being average.

The biggest problem this year was with the defense, and the team has already begun addressing that with the firing of Greg Manusky and promotion of John Pagano. Now let's hope AJ focuses even more on the defense in this year's draft, specifically on the front 7. Both Norv and AJ are skating on thin ice this season, so let's all hope they find a way to bring this team to glory again. What's that saying? Winning cures all?

Notable Quotes

I have to say, I was disappointed this week as there wasn't really anything worth quoting this week; it's all stuff we've heard before. The one good quote I found was actually by a commenter on Reddit. Reddit user atrollsatan broke the season down for us and offers up this nice summary of the NFL:

Playoff Teams Awesome Offense: Packers, Saints, Patriots Awesome Defense: Ravens, 49ers, Steelers Explosive Wildcard: Lions, Giants, Falcons, Bengals One Dimensional: Broncos, Texans Coulda Shoulda Woulda Eagles, Cowboys, Jets, Titans, Chargers Unjust Injuries Raiders, Bears, Chiefs, Bills Hopeful Late Surge Cardinals, Seahawks, Dolphins, Panthers Still Rebuilding Redskins, Browns, Vikings No Hope Jaguars, Buccaneers, Rams OH GOD WHY Colts

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking AFC North 12.4833 NFC North 14.4000 NFC South 15.4167 NFC East 15.6333 AFC East 16.3167 AFC West 18.3333 NFC West 18.6000 AFC South 20.8167

Surprises

Team Week 1 Average Week 18 Average Difference SF 25.667 4.000 21.667 CIN 30.778 10.222 20.556 DEN 29.000 14.556 14.444 CAR 30.889 22.889 8.000 DET 15.667 8.000 7.667

Disappointments

Team Week 1 Average Week 18 Average Difference IND 11.778 31.444 -19.666 TB 12.333 29.667 -17.334 STL 17.667 31.556 -13.889 SDG 7.000 16.111 -9.111 NYJ 7.333 16.222 -8.889

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Saints 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.111 0.314 Patriots 4 3 2 3 4 3 3 4 4 3.333 0.667 49ers 3 4 4 4 5 4 4 5 3 4.000 0.667 Ravens 5 5 5 5 3 6 6 3 5 4.778 1.030 Steelers 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 6 6 5.778 0.416 Falcons 7 7 7 8 7 7 9 7 7 7.333 0.667 Lions 8 9 8 7 8 8 7 9 8 8.000 0.667 Giants 9 8 9 10 9 9 11 8 9 9.111 0.875 Bengals 11 11 10 9 11 10 10 10 10 10.222 0.629 Texans 10 10 12 11 10 11 8 11 11 10.444 1.066 Cowboys 13 13 13 12 14 13 12 13 14 13.000 0.667 Eagles 15 14 11 14 12 14 18 20 12 14.444 2.753 Broncos 14 12 16 13 15 12 15 16 18 14.556 1.892 Chargers 16 18 14 19 13 18 16 18 13 16.111 2.183 Jets 19 16 18 16 18 16 13 14 16 16.222 1.812 Titans 12 15 21 18 17 15 22 12 15 16.333 3.333 Raiders 17 19 17 15 16 20 14 17 17 16.889 1.729 Cardinals 18 17 19 20 20 17 25 15 20 19.000 2.667 Seahawks 21 20 20 17 21 19 20 23 19 20.000 1.564 Chiefs 22 22 15 24 24 23 17 19 24 21.111 3.143 Dolphins 24 23 22 22 22 22 21 21 21 22.000 0.943 Bears 20 21 24 23 19 21 24 24 23 22.111 1.792 Panthers 23 25 23 21 23 24 23 22 22 22.889 1.100 Bills 25 26 25 25 25 25 19 25 25 24.444 1.950 Redskins 26 24 26 26 27 26 26 28 26 26.111 0.994 Jaguars 27 27 27 28 28 27 28 27 27 27.333 0.471 Browns 28 29 28 29 29 28 27 26 28 28.000 0.943 Vikings 30 30 29 27 26 29 29 29 29 28.667 1.247 Buccaneers 29 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.667 0.667 Colts 32 31 32 31 31 32 31 32 31 31.444 0.497 Rams 31 32 31 32 32 31 32 31 32 31.556 0.497

Observations:

Just because you're the 4th seed in the AFC doesn't necessarily mean you're the 4th-best team in the AFC. Heck, it doesn't even mean you're better than some of the teams that didn't make it into the playoffs. [cough]Broncos[/cough]

Aside from the Broncos, it looks like the rankings are pretty well aligned based on final record, with the 12 teams in the playoffs occupying the top of the charts.

Ouch, the Rams have now overtaken the colts as the worst team in the league.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Saints 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.111 0.314 Steelers 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 6 6 5.778 0.416 Jaguars 27 27 27 28 28 27 28 27 27 27.333 0.471 Rams 31 32 31 32 32 31 32 31 32 31.556 0.497 Colts 32 31 32 31 31 32 31 32 31 31.444 0.497 Bengals 11 11 10 9 11 10 10 10 10 10.222 0.629 Falcons 7 7 7 8 7 7 9 7 7 7.333 0.667 Patriots 4 3 2 3 4 3 3 4 4 3.333 0.667 Cowboys 13 13 13 12 14 13 12 13 14 13.000 0.667 49ers 3 4 4 4 5 4 4 5 3 4.000 0.667 Lions 8 9 8 7 8 8 7 9 8 8.000 0.667 Buccaneers 29 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.667 0.667 Giants 9 8 9 10 9 9 11 8 9 9.111 0.875 Dolphins 24 23 22 22 22 22 21 21 21 22.000 0.943 Browns 28 29 28 29 29 28 27 26 28 28.000 0.943 Redskins 26 24 26 26 27 26 26 28 26 26.111 0.994 Ravens 5 5 5 5 3 6 6 3 5 4.778 1.030 Texans 10 10 12 11 10 11 8 11 11 10.444 1.066 Panthers 23 25 23 21 23 24 23 22 22 22.889 1.100 Vikings 30 30 29 27 26 29 29 29 29 28.667 1.247 Seahawks 21 20 20 17 21 19 20 23 19 20.000 1.564 Raiders 17 19 17 15 16 20 14 17 17 16.889 1.729 Bears 20 21 24 23 19 21 24 24 23 22.111 1.792 Jets 19 16 18 16 18 16 13 14 16 16.222 1.812 Broncos 14 12 16 13 15 12 15 16 18 14.556 1.892 Bills 25 26 25 25 25 25 19 25 25 24.444 1.950 Chargers 16 18 14 19 13 18 16 18 13 16.111 2.183 Cardinals 18 17 19 20 20 17 25 15 20 19.000 2.667 Eagles 15 14 11 14 12 14 18 20 12 14.444 2.753 Chiefs 22 22 15 24 24 23 17 19 24 21.111 3.143 Titans 12 15 21 18 17 15 22 12 15 16.333 3.333

Observations:

Green Bay: still unanimous.

Pundits pretty much in agreement that the Cowboys were just barely playoff-calibre

AFC West teams all occupying the bottom-third of the list when it comes to consistent rankings.

Objective Average

Objective Saints 1 3 1 2 3 3 2.167 0.898 Packers 3 5 2 1 1 1 2.167 1.463 Steelers 2 1 5 5 6 9 4.667 2.625 Patriots 4 7 3 4 9 5 5.333 2.055 Ravens 9 9 6 6 2 2 5.667 2.867 49ers 8 13 4 3 4 4 6.000 3.512 Falcons 6 10 9 8 7 8 8.000 1.291 Lions 10 8 7 7 10 7 8.167 1.344 Texans 7 2 20 9 5 6 8.167 5.698 Eagles 5 4 8 11 17 10 9.167 4.298 Giants 16 6 10 10 8 14 10.667 3.399 Chargers 13 12 12 12 22 18 14.833 3.848 Titans 15 14 17 16 11 17 15.000 2.082 Jets 11 18 19 15 19 12 15.667 3.249 Bengals 18 16 15 13 14 20 16.000 2.381 Bears 20 17 18 14 16 13 16.333 2.357 Cowboys 17 11 24 17 23 11 17.167 5.113 Seahawks 12 24 13 19 18 19 17.500 4.031 Dolphins 14 19 14 21 25 16 18.167 3.976 Cardinals 27 22 11 22 15 22 19.833 5.273 Raiders 25 15 23 20 13 23 19.833 4.413 Panthers 19 23 21 25 20 15 20.500 3.149 Broncos 23 27 22 18 12 28 21.667 5.437 Chiefs 22 25 16 24 28 29 24.000 4.282 Bills 28 20 25 23 27 27 25.000 2.769 Browns 24 26 29 28 21 24 25.333 2.687 Redskins 21 21 27 26 31 26 25.333 3.496 Jaguars 26 28 26 27 24 25 26.000 1.291 Vikings 30 29 28 29 29 21 27.667 3.037 Buccaneers 32 32 32 30 26 31 30.500 2.141 Colts 29 31 30 32 30 32 30.667 1.106 Rams 31 30 31 31 32 30 30.833 0.687

Observations:

Packers no longer unanimous. In fact, the Packers are no longer at the top. The Saints and Packers have the same overall ranking average, but because the Saints are more-consistently ranked, they take the top spot.

Wow, Broncos are now the third-best team in teh AFC West according to the objective stats. The difference between the Steelers and the Broncos here is 17 positions. That doesn't bode too well for Denver come Sunday.

There's reason for concern in Cincinatti, as they're hovering around a 16th-place ranking, going against number-8 Houston.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Rams 31 30 31 31 32 30 30.833 0.687 Saints/a> 1 3 1 2 3 3 2.167 0.898 Colts 29 31 30 32 30 32 30.667 1.106 Falcons 6 10 9 8 7 8 8.000 1.291 Jaguars 26 28 26 27 24 25 26.000 1.291 Lions 10 8 7 7 10 7 8.167 1.344 Packers 3 5 2 1 1 1 2.167 1.463 Patriots 4 7 3 4 9 5 5.333 2.055 Titans 15 14 17 16 11 17 15.000 2.082 Buccaneers 32 32 32 30 26 31 30.500 2.141 Bears 20 17 18 14 16 13 16.333 2.357 Bengals 18 16 15 13 14 20 16.000 2.381 Steelers 2 1 5 5 6 9 4.667 2.625 Browns 24 26 29 28 21 24 25.333 2.687 Bills 28 20 25 23 27 27 25.000 2.769 Ravens 9 9 6 6 2 2 5.667 2.867 Vikings 30 29 28 29 29 21 27.667 3.037 Panthers 19 23 21 25 20 15 20.500 3.149 Jets 11 18 19 15 19 12 15.667 3.249 Giants 16 6 10 10 8 14 10.667 3.399 Redskins 21 21 27 26 31 26 25.333 3.496 49ers 8 13 4 3 4 4 6.000 3.512 Chargers 13 12 12 12 22 18 14.833 3.848 Dolphins 14 19 14 21 25 16 18.167 3.976 Seahawks 12 24 13 19 18 19 17.500 4.031 Chiefs 22 25 16 24 28 29 24.000 4.282 Eagles 5 4 8 11 17 10 9.167 4.298 Raiders 25 15 23 20 13 23 19.833 4.413 Cowboys 17 11 24 17 23 11 17.167 5.113 Cardinals 27 22 11 22 15 22 19.833 5.273 Broncos 23 27 22 18 12 28 21.667 5.437 Texans 7 2 20 9 5 6 8.167 5.698

Observations:

With the exception of the "Team Rankings" ranking putting them at number 20, the Texans actually were relatively consistently-ranked.

Broncos, Cardinals and Cowboys on the other hand, were all over the map.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 1.087 1.167 Saints 2.111 2.167 2.139 0.618 0.056 Patriots 3.333 5.333 4.333 1.708 2.000 49ers 4.000 6.000 5.000 2.482 2.000 Ravens 4.778 5.667 5.222 2.029 0.889 Steelers 5.778 4.667 5.222 1.776 -1.111 Falcons 7.333 8.000 7.667 1.020 0.667 Lions 8.000 8.167 8.083 0.998 0.167 Texans 10.444 8.167 9.306 3.862 -2.278 Giants 9.111 10.667 9.889 2.380 1.556 Eagles 14.444 9.167 11.806 4.315 -5.278 Bengals 10.222 16.000 13.111 3.243 5.778 Cowboys 13.000 17.167 15.083 3.859 4.167 Chargers 16.111 14.833 15.472 3.029 -1.278 Titans 16.333 15.000 15.667 2.971 -1.333 Jets 16.222 15.667 15.944 2.503 -0.556 Broncos 14.556 21.667 18.111 5.110 7.111 Raiders 16.889 19.833 18.361 3.415 2.944 Seahawks 20.000 17.500 18.750 3.077 -2.500 Bears 22.111 16.333 19.222 3.487 -5.778 Cardinals 19.000 19.833 19.417 3.944 0.833 Dolphins 22.000 18.167 20.083 3.222 -3.833 Panthers 22.889 20.500 21.694 2.462 -2.389 Chiefs 21.111 24.000 22.556 3.907 2.889 Bills 24.444 25.000 24.722 2.329 0.556 Redskins 26.111 25.333 25.722 2.372 -0.778 Jaguars 27.333 26.000 26.667 1.108 -1.333 Browns 28.000 25.333 26.667 2.265 -2.667 Vikings 28.667 27.667 28.167 2.205 -1.000 Buccaneers 29.667 30.500 30.083 1.506 0.833 Colts 31.444 30.667 31.056 0.884 -0.778 Rams 31.556 30.833 31.194 0.680 -0.722

Observations:

Wow, Ravens and Steelers with the same Overall Average. Should make for a great game next weekend if the Steelers win this week.

Chargers slightly above average, but the top-ranked team in the AFC West.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Saints 2.111 2.167 2.139 0.618 0.056 Rams 31.556 30.833 31.194 0.680 -0.722 Colts 31.444 30.667 31.056 0.884 -0.778 Lions 8.000 8.167 8.083 0.998 0.167 Falcons 7.333 8.000 7.667 1.020 0.667 Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 1.087 1.167 Jaguars 27.333 26.000 26.667 1.108 -1.333 Buccaneers 29.667 30.500 30.083 1.506 0.833 Patriots 3.333 5.333 4.333 1.708 2.000 Steelers 5.778 4.667 5.222 1.776 -1.111 Ravens 4.778 5.667 5.222 2.029 0.889 Vikings 28.667 27.667 28.167 2.205 -1.000 Browns 28.000 25.333 26.667 2.265 -2.667 Bills 24.444 25.000 24.722 2.329 0.556 Redskins 26.111 25.333 25.722 2.372 -0.778 Giants 9.111 10.667 9.889 2.380 1.556 Panthers 22.889 20.500 21.694 2.462 -2.389 49ers 4.000 6.000 5.000 2.482 2.000 Jets 16.222 15.667 15.944 2.503 -0.556 Titans 16.333 15.000 15.667 2.971 -1.333 Chargers 16.111 14.833 15.472 3.029 -1.278 Seahawks 20.000 17.500 18.750 3.077 -2.500 Dolphins 22.000 18.167 20.083 3.222 -3.833 Bengals 10.222 16.000 13.111 3.243 5.778 Raiders 16.889 19.833 18.361 3.415 2.944 Bears 22.111 16.333 19.222 3.487 -5.778 Cowboys 13.000 17.167 15.083 3.859 4.167 Texans 10.444 8.167 9.306 3.862 -2.278 Chiefs 21.111 24.000 22.556 3.907 2.889 Cardinals 19.000 19.833 19.417 3.944 0.833 Eagles 14.444 9.167 11.806 4.315 -5.278 Broncos 14.556 21.667 18.111 5.110 7.111

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Broncos 14.556 21.667 18.111 5.110 7.111 Bengals 10.222 16.000 13.111 3.243 5.778 Cowboys 13.000 17.167 15.083 3.859 4.167 Raiders 16.889 19.833 18.361 3.415 2.944 Chiefs 21.111 24.000 22.556 3.907 2.889 Patriots 3.333 5.333 4.333 1.708 2.000 49ers 4.000 6.000 5.000 2.482 2.000 Giants 9.111 10.667 9.889 2.380 1.556 Packers 1.000 2.167 1.583 1.087 1.167 Ravens 4.778 5.667 5.222 2.029 0.889 Buccaneers 29.667 30.500 30.083 1.506 0.833 Cardinals 19.000 19.833 19.417 3.944 0.833 Falcons 7.333 8.000 7.667 1.020 0.667 Bills 24.444 25.000 24.722 2.329 0.556 Lions 8.000 8.167 8.083 0.998 0.167 Saints 2.111 2.167 2.139 0.618 0.056 Jets 16.222 15.667 15.944 2.503 -0.556 Rams 31.556 30.833 31.194 0.680 -0.722 Colts 31.444 30.667 31.056 0.884 -0.778 Redskins 26.111 25.333 25.722 2.372 -0.778 Vikings 28.667 27.667 28.167 2.205 -1.000 Steelers 5.778 4.667 5.222 1.776 -1.111 Chargers 16.111 14.833 15.472 3.029 -1.278 Titans 16.333 15.000 15.667 2.971 -1.333 Jaguars 27.333 26.000 26.667 1.108 -1.333 Texans 10.444 8.167 9.306 3.862 -2.278 Panthers 22.889 20.500 21.694 2.462 -2.389 Seahawks 20.000 17.500 18.750 3.077 -2.500 Browns 28.000 25.333 26.667 2.265 -2.667 Dolphins 22.000 18.167 20.083 3.222 -3.833 Eagles 14.444 9.167 11.806 4.315 -5.278 Bears 22.111 16.333 19.222 3.487 -5.778

Observations:

Funny how two playoff teams are the two most overrated teams in the league to finish the year.

Yes the Cowboys had a strong showing at the end, but they still aren't as good as you'd like to think.

Interesting how all three AFC West teams not named the Chargers are overrated. And the Chargers are a bit underrated.

The Eagles continue their streak of being severely underrated. Just goes to show how much "expectations" goes into the subjective rankings.

And the pundits are being unfairly bearish on the Bears.

Sources