Despite the fact the Chargers lost to the Cleveland Browns this week, only two of the 19 ranking site ranked the Browns as higher than the Chargers. Yay? So the Chargers lost to an inferior opponent? Sounds about right.

The Chargers finally make an appearance on this week's "Stock Falling" list, though they aren't the team that fell the most this week. That distinction goes to the Jets and Saints. Once things started looking up in New Orleans, the Saints got completely bulldozed by the Broncos. New Orleans has fallen just about as many spots this week as they rose last week, so let's consider it a "correction."

If you've been paying attention the last few weeks, you know that I had been harping on how the Dolphins are actually much better than people had been giving them credit. Well, the media is finally taking notice and they're climbing up the ranks. One thing that makes me scratch my head though: the Colts. They win by 4 points over a bottom-5 teams and now they're up an average of nearly 7 spots, and 3 subjective sites have them ranked in the top-12!

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking NFC North 9.9211 NFC East 13.7632 NFC West 14.2237 AFC East 16.9211 AFC North 17.8684 NFC South 17.9211 AFC South 20.1316 AFC West 21.2500

With the Chargers falling in the rankings, they're now dragging the AFC West average down. If only the NFC South would get their act together and all 4 NFC divisions would outrank all 4 AFC divisions. Then they could rename the AFC to the "American Futility Conference."

Stock Rising

Team Week 8 Average Week 9 Average Difference IND 24.000 17.182 6.818 DET 21.500 16.000 5.500 MIA 17.667 12.273 5.394 TB 25.417 20.182 5.235 OAK 28.250 25.364 2.886

Stock Falling

Team Week 8 Average Week 9 Average Difference NYJ 19.667 24.455 -4.788 NO 19.667 24.000 -4.333 SDG 17.417 20.818 -3.401 STL 21.333 24.091 -2.758 PHI 14.167 16.727 -2.560

Subjective Average

Subjective Falcons 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.167 Texans 3 3 2 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 2.636 -0.053 Giants 2 4 4 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 2 2.818 -0.151 Bears 5 2 3 6 5 4 4 4 4 5 5 4.273 0.227 49ers 4 5 6 3 4 5 5 5 5 3 4 4.455 0.212 Packers 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 5.909 -0.159 Patriots 8 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7.091 0.326 Ravens 7 8 7 9 9 9 8 9 8 9 9 8.364 -0.697 Broncos 9 9 9 8 8 8 9 8 9 8 8 8.455 1.628 Steelers 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10.091 1.826 Vikings 11 13 11 13 13 13 12 12 11 12 12 12.091 -2.508 Dolphins 12 10 14 15 11 12 13 11 13 13 11 12.273 5.394 Seahawks 13 14 13 11 14 14 11 13 12 11 13 12.636 -2.469 Lions 17 19 12 12 17 16 18 14 19 18 14 16.000 5.500 Cowboys 14 16 15 14 15 23 14 17 20 14 15 16.091 -0.508 Eagles 18 15 21 16 16 21 15 15 14 16 17 16.727 -2.560 Colts 15 12 23 22 12 11 16 20 21 21 16 17.182 6.818 Redskins 19 22 17 17 18 17 19 18 15 17 18 17.909 -2.326 Cardinals 16 20 20 23 19 19 17 16 16 15 20 18.273 -1.356 Bengals 22 18 18 21 23 18 20 22 18 20 21 20.091 0.409 Buccaneers 21 28 16 18 20 15 21 21 24 19 19 20.182 5.235 Chargers 20 17 26 19 21 24 22 19 17 22 22 20.818 -3.401 Saints 26 25 19 20 26 22 24 26 27 26 23 24.000 -4.333 Rams 23 21 27 24 22 20 25 25 28 23 27 24.091 -2.758 Jets 25 24 22 28 24 26 23 23 25 25 24 24.455 -4.788 Raiders 24 27 25 25 25 25 26 24 26 27 25 25.364 2.886 Titans 27 23 29 26 27 28 27 28 22 28 26 26.455 -2.205 Bills 28 26 28 27 28 29 28 27 23 24 28 26.909 -0.659 Browns 29 29 24 30 29 27 29 29 29 29 29 28.455 1.045 Panthers 30 30 30 29 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.909 -0.576 Jaguars 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.667 Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 -0.833

Observations:

So long as the Falcons remain undefeated, they'll be your consensus number-1.

Oh good, we're back to at least having parity in the top-12 as there's an even 6/6 split between AFC and NFC teams in the top-12

Though, if you look at the "Average" column, there's a definite line between the Seahawks and Lions, so technically we have a clear top-13 list. Tipping the scale in the NFC's favor.

Losing to the Browns tends to cause your rankings to drop a bit, and the Chargers aren't immune.

Jaguars and Chiefs are unanimous 31 and 32. The Panthers would have been too if it weren't for USA Today.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Jaguars 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 0.000 -0.471 Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.000 -0.687 Falcons 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.553 Panthers 30 30 30 29 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 0.288 -0.457 Steelers 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 0.288 -0.471 Broncos 9 9 9 8 8 8 9 8 9 8 8 0.498 -0.884 Packers 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 0.514 -0.081 Patriots 8 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 0.514 -0.245 Texans 3 3 2 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 0.643 -0.219 Ravens 7 8 7 9 9 9 8 9 8 9 9 0.771 -0.335 Vikings 11 13 11 13 13 13 12 12 11 12 12 0.793 -0.069 Giants 2 4 4 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 2 0.833 0.088 49ers 4 5 6 3 4 5 5 5 5 3 4 0.891 -0.136 Raiders 24 27 25 25 25 25 26 24 26 27 25 0.979 0.055 Bears 5 2 3 6 5 4 4 4 4 5 5 1.052 -0.448 Seahawks 13 14 13 11 14 14 11 13 12 11 13 1.150 0.164 Dolphins 12 10 14 15 11 12 13 11 13 13 11 1.420 -1.561 Browns 29 29 24 30 29 27 29 29 29 29 29 1.559 0.913 Jets 25 24 22 28 24 26 23 23 25 25 24 1.559 -1.097 Redskins 19 22 17 17 18 17 19 18 15 17 18 1.676 -0.502 Bills 28 26 28 27 28 29 28 27 23 24 28 1.781 0.617 Bengals 22 18 18 21 23 18 20 22 18 20 21 1.781 -0.281 Titans 27 23 29 26 27 28 27 28 22 28 26 2.061 0.323 Eagles 18 15 21 16 16 21 15 15 14 16 17 2.260 0.536 Cardinals 16 20 20 23 19 19 17 16 16 15 20 2.339 0.123 Rams 23 21 27 24 22 20 25 25 28 23 27 2.466 -0.459 Lions 17 19 12 12 17 16 18 14 19 18 14 2.486 0.020 Saints 26 25 19 20 26 22 24 26 27 26 23 2.558 -0.479 Chargers 20 17 26 19 21 24 22 19 17 22 22 2.657 -0.065 Cowboys 14 16 15 14 15 23 14 17 20 14 15 2.778 -0.005 Buccaneers 21 28 16 18 20 15 21 21 24 19 19 3.433 1.777 Colts 15 12 23 22 12 11 16 20 21 21 16 4.196 2.416

Observations:

Not really going to comment about the top-4 teams that are near the limits.

Wow, the steelers would have been a unanimous 10th-ranked team if it weren't for CBS

In fact, it looks like the top 12 teams are pretty well set.

Things really get muddled when you start talking about teams in the middle. Again, is it apathy or truly inconsistent teams?

Objective Average

Objective 49ers 2 2 5 1 2 4 1 4 2.625 0.625 Texans 7 3 2 2 4 2 2 1 2.875 0.625 Broncos 1 1 7 5 7 11 6 2 5.000 2.625 Falcons 8 5 1 6 5 6 7 3 5.125 1.875 Giants 4 4 4 4 12 5 4 5 5.250 1.375 Patriots 3 13 8 7 6 1 3 8 6.125 2.000 Bears 5 14 3 3 9 3 5 7 6.125 -2.000 Packers 6 11 6 8 3 8 8 6 7.000 -3.125 Dolphins 10 9 9 10 10 10 11 12 10.125 3.750 Seahawks 9 7 12 9 15 16 9 10 10.875 -2.000 Steelers 12 12 11 15 21 9 14 11 13.125 4.125 Ravens 11 22 10 13 11 13 13 13 13.250 1.250 Vikings 13 21 16 14 1 14 16 14 13.625 -4.125 Cowboys 14 8 15 12 18 17 12 18 14.250 0.625 Lions 15 10 13 16 17 12 17 19 14.875 0.625 Buccaneers 16 19 23 11 28 7 10 9 15.375 3.625 Redskins 17 15 19 17 27 15 15 16 17.625 -2.375 Cardinals 21 24 22 18 8 20 18 15 18.250 -3.000 Eagles 19 16 18 23 25 18 24 17 20.000 0.250 Jets 18 20 17 20 22 24 20 20 20.125 -1.250 Panthers 20 6 30 21 30 23 19 23 21.500 2.875 Rams 23 17 20 19 20 27 22 25 21.625 -7.375 Chargers 25 25 28 22 13 19 21 24 22.125 -0.625 Raiders 24 18 21 27 19 25 28 28 23.750 2.000 Colts 29 28 14 25 14 30 27 30 24.625 1.000 Bengals 26 23 26 26 24 26 25 22 24.750 -0.250 Saints 22 30 27 24 32 21 23 21 25.000 -0.750 Browns 28 26 29 28 26 22 26 27 26.500 0.250 Bills 27 27 25 29 23 31 29 26 27.125 -0.875 Titans 31 29 24 30 16 29 31 29 27.375 -1.500 Jaguars 30 31 31 31 29 28 30 31 30.125 -0.125 Chiefs 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31.875 -0.125

Observations:

Looks like the media was actually right about the Steelers being pretty good as their subjective rankings are finally catching up to them.

Huh ... BeatGraphs and Team Rankings both have the Colts at 14th, while all the others have them at 27th or worse. Maybe those pundits aren't so crazy? Naw, they probably are.

Well at least BeatGraphs still has the Chargers up in 13th.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Chiefs 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 0.331 -0.330 Dolphins 10 9 9 10 10 10 11 12 0.927 -2.659 Jaguars 30 31 31 31 29 28 30 31 1.053 -0.605 49ers 2 2 5 1 2 4 1 4 1.409 0.110 Bengals 26 23 26 26 24 26 25 22 1.479 -0.102 Texans 7 3 2 2 4 2 2 1 1.763 -0.473 Browns 28 26 29 28 26 22 26 27 2.000 0.146 Jets 18 20 17 20 22 24 20 20 2.027 -0.907 Falcons 8 5 1 6 5 6 7 3 2.088 -0.912 Packers 6 11 6 8 3 8 8 6 2.179 0.643 Bills 27 27 25 29 23 31 29 26 2.368 -0.120 Giants 4 4 4 4 12 5 4 5 2.586 -4.502 Lions 15 10 13 16 17 12 17 19 2.804 -0.550 Seahawks 9 7 12 9 15 16 9 10 2.977 -0.041 Rams 23 17 20 19 20 27 22 25 3.080 -0.586 Eagles 19 16 18 23 25 18 24 17 3.240 0.009 Cowboys 14 8 15 12 18 17 12 18 3.269 -0.650 Broncos 1 1 7 5 7 11 6 2 3.279 -0.991 Steelers 12 12 11 15 21 9 14 11 3.444 0.292 Ravens 11 22 10 13 11 13 13 13 3.491 -0.350 Patriots 3 13 8 7 6 1 3 8 3.551 -0.304 Bears 5 14 3 3 9 3 5 7 3.586 -0.069 Raiders 24 18 21 27 19 25 28 28 3.733 0.351 Redskins 17 15 19 17 27 15 15 16 3.773 -1.094 Saints 22 30 27 24 32 21 23 21 3.937 -0.584 Chargers 25 25 28 22 13 19 21 24 4.314 -0.158 Cardinals 21 24 22 18 8 20 18 15 4.657 -0.815 Titans 31 29 24 30 16 29 31 29 4.768 -1.178 Vikings 13 21 16 14 1 14 16 14 5.314 0.926 Colts 29 28 14 25 14 30 27 30 6.323 2.202 Buccaneers 16 19 23 11 28 7 10 9 6.981 -0.316 Panthers 20 6 30 21 30 23 19 23 7.053 1.669

Observations:

Yes, the Chiefs really are that terrible. And yes, the Dolphins are actually pretty good.

49ers and Texans are consistently good, Bengals and Browns consistently not good.

Oh boy, the Panthers and Buccaneers are all over the board. The Colts aren't so much as the other 6 sites are in agreement that they're not great.

Chargers, not that good.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Texans 2.636 2.875 2.756 0.286 Falcons 1.000 5.125 3.063 1.020 49ers 4.455 2.625 3.540 0.418 Giants 2.818 5.250 4.034 0.612 Bears 4.273 6.125 5.199 -0.886 Packers 5.909 7.000 6.455 -1.642 Patriots 7.091 6.125 6.608 1.163 Broncos 8.455 5.000 6.727 2.127 Ravens 8.364 13.250 10.807 0.276 Dolphins 12.273 10.125 11.199 4.572 Steelers 10.091 13.125 11.608 2.975 Seahawks 12.636 10.875 11.756 -2.235 Vikings 12.091 13.625 12.858 -3.316 Cowboys 16.091 14.250 15.170 0.059 Lions 16.000 14.875 15.438 3.062 Redskins 17.909 17.625 17.767 -2.350 Buccaneers 20.182 15.375 17.778 4.430 Cardinals 18.273 18.250 18.261 -2.178 Eagles 16.727 20.000 18.364 -1.156 Colts 17.182 24.625 20.903 3.910 Chargers 20.818 22.125 21.472 -2.014 Jets 24.455 20.125 22.290 -3.019 Bengals 20.091 24.750 22.420 0.080 Rams 24.091 21.625 22.858 -5.066 Saints 24.000 25.000 24.500 -2.542 Raiders 25.364 23.750 24.557 2.443 Panthers 29.909 21.500 25.705 1.149 Titans 26.455 27.375 26.915 -1.852 Bills 26.909 27.125 27.017 -0.767 Browns 28.455 26.500 27.477 0.648 Jaguars 31.000 30.125 30.563 0.270 Chiefs 32.000 31.875 31.938 -0.480

Observations:

The Texans once again are this week's overall top team, and they actually climbed the rankings this week. So they're even bestier.

Falcons are climbing the ranks here too as they switched spots with the 49ers for the second spot.

5 of the top 6 teams are in the NFC, 6 of the bottom 7 teans are in the AFC. Thankfully the Chargers aren't a part of that 5 ... yet.

Actually, it's interesting how the conferences are clustered together. 1 AFC, then 5 NFC, then 5 AFC, then 8 NFC, then 4 AFC. Fun.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Chiefs 32.000 31.875 0.223 -0.512 Jaguars 31.000 30.125 0.809 -0.569 Texans 2.636 2.875 1.250 -0.377 49ers 4.455 2.625 1.453 0.115 Packers 5.909 7.000 1.563 0.149 Dolphins 12.273 10.125 1.629 -2.103 Browns 28.455 26.500 2.006 0.151 Bills 26.909 27.125 2.052 0.239 Giants 2.818 5.250 2.159 -2.759 Seahawks 12.636 10.875 2.292 0.141 Patriots 7.091 6.125 2.385 -0.147 Falcons 1.000 5.125 2.446 -1.011 Bears 4.273 6.125 2.625 0.031 Raiders 25.364 23.750 2.657 0.090 Lions 16.000 14.875 2.683 -1.415 Steelers 10.091 13.125 2.699 -0.640 Broncos 8.455 5.000 2.753 -0.392 Redskins 17.909 17.625 2.764 -0.750 Jets 24.455 20.125 2.776 -0.022 Bengals 20.091 24.750 2.837 0.118 Rams 24.091 21.625 3.000 -1.749 Cowboys 16.091 14.250 3.130 -0.173 Eagles 16.727 20.000 3.161 -0.691 Saints 24.000 25.000 3.250 -1.080 Ravens 8.364 13.250 3.361 -0.863 Titans 26.455 27.375 3.498 -0.575 Cardinals 18.273 18.250 3.507 -0.441 Chargers 20.818 22.125 3.513 -0.543 Vikings 12.091 13.625 3.581 0.727 Buccaneers 20.182 15.375 5.742 0.012 Panthers 29.909 21.500 6.183 1.961 Colts 17.182 24.625 6.367 3.313

Observations:

Chiefs and Jaguars are bad. Too bad the Chargers don't play them both again this year.

Colts, Panthers and Buccaneers are all over the board, and it's not even close to the next most-inconsistent teams.

Chargers are in the bottom-5 as far as ranking consistency this week, but their Standard Deviation actually went down this week!

In fact, 20 teams had their Standard Deviation fall this week, with only 12 having theirs go up. The rankings are becoming more and more consistent.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Colts 17.182 24.625 7.443 5.818 Ravens 8.364 13.250 4.886 -1.947 Bengals 20.091 24.750 4.659 0.659 Falcons 1.000 5.125 4.125 -1.708 Eagles 16.727 20.000 3.273 -2.810 Steelers 10.091 13.125 3.034 -2.299 Giants 2.818 5.250 2.432 -1.526 Bears 4.273 6.125 1.852 2.227 Vikings 12.091 13.625 1.534 1.617 Chargers 20.818 22.125 1.307 -2.776 Packers 5.909 7.000 1.091 2.966 Saints 24.000 25.000 1.000 -3.583 Titans 26.455 27.375 0.921 -0.704 Texans 2.636 2.875 0.239 -0.678 Bills 26.909 27.125 0.216 0.216 Cardinals 18.273 18.250 -0.023 1.644 Chiefs 32.000 31.875 -0.125 -0.708 Redskins 17.909 17.625 -0.284 0.049 Jaguars 31.000 30.125 -0.875 0.792 Patriots 7.091 6.125 -0.966 -1.674 Lions 16.000 14.875 -1.125 4.875 Raiders 25.364 23.750 -1.614 0.886 Seahawks 12.636 10.875 -1.761 -0.469 49ers 4.455 2.625 -1.830 -0.413 Cowboys 16.091 14.250 -1.841 -1.133 Browns 28.455 26.500 -1.955 0.795 Dolphins 12.273 10.125 -2.148 1.644 Rams 24.091 21.625 -2.466 4.617 Broncos 8.455 5.000 -3.455 -0.997 Jets 24.455 20.125 -4.330 -3.538 Buccaneers 20.182 15.375 -4.807 1.610 Panthers 29.909 21.500 -8.409 -3.451

Observations:

Hooray! The Chargers are no longer near the top of this list. But believe it or not, they're still slightly overrated.

Glad I'm not crazy for scratching my head at those Colts rankings. Wow, vastly ranked way too high.

Ravens still have a little more to fall, as do the Bengals.

Falcons aren't nearly as dominant as the subjective rankings will have you believe.

The Eagles are overrated still, I'm going to blame it on the East Coast Bias (it's the thing for a west coast team to do).

Everyone is being way too harsh on the Panthers. Cam Newton goes through a sophomore slump and all of a sudden they're worse than the Browns.

As crazy good as the Broncos have played recently, they're actually better than their perception. That's scary.

Good news for Chiefs fans: they're under-ranked! But by only 1/8th of a ranking.

Sources