Our long San Diego nightmare is nearly over! Chargers football returns this week. I don't know about you guys, but this has been one long 10 day stretch.

This week, the Chargers benefited with the bye in two respects: their players are getting rested and healthy, and they actually managed to climb in the subjective rankings by sitting idle. Last week, the Chargers averaged a 6.451, this week they average a 6.000. Not bad.

But as you'll soon find out, not all is well in Chargerville. First some notable quotes this week, then on to the tables!

Notable Quotes

Reddit

Much needed bye came this week. I hope the Chargers rested and got healthy, because this next stretch is nothing like the first 5 weeks.

Sports Illustrated

The Chargers have won the games they were expected to win so far, and that passes as progress in San Diego. But now the degree of difficulty spikes a bit. In their coming four games, the Chargers travel to the Jets and Chiefs, then draw glamor matchups with the Packers and Raiders at home. We'll know where this season is headed in San Diego after that month-long stretch.

Fox Sports

With tight end Antonio Gates dinged up and a beat-up running back corps, the bye week came at the perfect time for this team. They benefit from a couple of losses and move up two spots, but have their work cut out for them with the Jets and Packers on the horizon.

Subjective Average

	Subjective
Packers	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
Patriots	2	3	2	3	2	3	2	3	2	2	3		2.455		0.498
Ravens	3	2	3	2	3	2	3	2	3	3	2		2.546		0.498
49ers	4	5	5	4	4	4	4	5	4	4	5		4.364		0.481
Lions	6	7	6	5	6	5	6	8	5	5	4		5.727		1.052
Chargers	7	4	4	6	7	7	5	7	6	6	7		6.000		1.128
Saints	5	6	12	7	5	9	7	6	8	7	6		7.091		1.929
Steelers	8	8	7	11	8	11	8	4	7	12	8		8.364		2.144
Bills	10	10	11	8	9	13	9	10	11	9	9		9.909		1.311
Giants	11	12	8	9	12	10	12	9	10	10	11		10.364		1.298
Buccaneers	12	9	10	10	11	8	11	13	12	8	12		10.546		1.616
Raiders	9	15	9	14	10	6	10	11	13	11	10		10.727		2.416
Bengals	18	17	17	17	13	12	13	16	9	15	15		14.727		2.597
Texans	17	13	13	12	16	15	15	14	17	20	14		15.091		2.193
Bears	14	16	19	13	18	14	16	19	18	14	13		15.818		2.249
Falcons	19	11	15	19	19	18	17	12	14	16	16		16.000		2.663
Titans	13	20	16	15	14	16	14	18	16	21	18		16.455		2.426
Jets	16	14	20	16	17	19	19	15	20	13	17		16.909		2.275
Redskins	15	19	14	21	15	17	18	21	15	18	20		17.546		2.426
Cowboys	21	21	18	18	20	20	20	20	19	19	21		19.727		1.052
Eagles	20	18	21	20	21	21	21	17	22	17	19		19.727		1.656
Seahawks	22	23	24	23	22	22	23	25	21	22	24		22.818		1.113
Panthers	25	22	22	22	25	23	24	24	25	25	22		23.546		1.305
Browns	23	25	23	25	23	24	22	23	23	26	23		23.636		1.150
Chiefs	24	26	25	24	24	25	25	22	24	28	25		24.727		1.420
Cardinals	26	24	28	27	29	28	26	27	26	23	27		26.455		1.671
Broncos	27	27	29	28	27	26	27	28	28	24	26		27.000		1.279
Vikings	28	29	27	26	28	27	28	26	29	29	29		27.818		1.113
Jaguars	29	28	26	29	26	29	29	31	27	27	28		28.091		1.443
Rams	31	30	30	31	31	31	32	32	30	31	30		30.818		0.716
Colts	32	31	32	30	32	30	30	29	31	32	31		30.909		0.996
Dolphins	30	32	31	32	30	32	31	30	32	30	32		31.091		0.900

Observations:

• How many of you put money on the 49ers and Lions being top-5 teams? Hey, liar! Put your hand down.
• Chargers had minor variance this week, only ranging from positions 4-7.
• Raiders almost broke the top-10.
• Philadelphia even climbed a little this week. But, they're still barely above a 20th-ranking, so they're ripe for ridicule. Dream team? *scoff*

Subjective Standard Deviation

	Subjective
Packers	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
49ers	4	5	5	4	4	4	4	5	4	4	5		4.364		0.481
Ravens	3	2	3	2	3	2	3	2	3	3	2		2.546		0.498
Patriots	2	3	2	3	2	3	2	3	2	2	3		2.455		0.498
Rams	31	30	30	31	31	31	32	32	30	31	30		30.818		0.716
Dolphins	30	32	31	32	30	32	31	30	32	30	32		31.091		0.900
Colts	32	31	32	30	32	30	30	29	31	32	31		30.909		0.996
Cowboys	21	21	18	18	20	20	20	20	19	19	21		19.727		1.052
Lions	6	7	6	5	6	5	6	8	5	5	4		5.727		1.052
Vikings	28	29	27	26	28	27	28	26	29	29	29		27.818		1.113
Seahawks	22	23	24	23	22	22	23	25	21	22	24		22.818		1.113
Chargers	7	4	4	6	7	7	5	7	6	6	7		6.000		1.128
Browns	23	25	23	25	23	24	22	23	23	26	23		23.636		1.150
Broncos	27	27	29	28	27	26	27	28	28	24	26		27.000		1.279
Giants	11	12	8	9	12	10	12	9	10	10	11		10.364		1.298
Panthers	25	22	22	22	25	23	24	24	25	25	22		23.546		1.305
Bills	10	10	11	8	9	13	9	10	11	9	9		9.909		1.311
Chiefs	24	26	25	24	24	25	25	22	24	28	25		24.727		1.420
Jaguars	29	28	26	29	26	29	29	31	27	27	28		28.091		1.443
Buccaneers	12	9	10	10	11	8	11	13	12	8	12		10.546		1.616
Eagles	20	18	21	20	21	21	21	17	22	17	19		19.727		1.656
Cardinals	26	24	28	27	29	28	26	27	26	23	27		26.455		1.671
Saints	5	6	12	7	5	9	7	6	8	7	6		7.091		1.929
Steelers	8	8	7	11	8	11	8	4	7	12	8		8.364		2.144
Texans	17	13	13	12	16	15	15	14	17	20	14		15.091		2.193
Bears	14	16	19	13	18	14	16	19	18	14	13		15.818		2.249
Jets	16	14	20	16	17	19	19	15	20	13	17		16.909		2.275
Raiders	9	15	9	14	10	6	10	11	13	11	10		10.727		2.416
Redskins	15	19	14	21	15	17	18	21	15	18	20		17.546		2.426
Titans	13	20	16	15	14	16	14	18	16	21	18		16.455		2.426
Bengals	18	17	17	17	13	12	13	16	9	15	15		14.727		2.597
Falcons	19	11	15	19	19	18	17	12	14	16	16		16.000		2.663

Observations:

• Packers still unanimously the best.
• Looks like people are finally believing in the 49ers
• Lions are starting to falter a little.

Objective Average

	Objective
Packers	3	4	1	1	3	1		2.167		1.213
Ravens	1	1	5	3	10	3		3.833		3.078
Patriots	4	6	4	2	7	5		4.667		1.599
49ers	5	17	2	4	1	4		5.500		5.315
Lions	13	9	3	6	2	2		5.833		4.059
Bills	6	14	9	10	5	6		8.333		3.091
Saints	10	7	6	5	8	21		9.500		5.377
Jets	2	15	15	7	13	10		10.333		4.679
Steelers	7	3	16	8	15	17		11.000		5.260
Cowboys	17	2	8	9	18	20		12.333		6.446
Giants	8	10	18	19	14	7		12.667		4.679
Bengals	12	19	14	17	4	11		12.833		4.810
Raiders	11	16	10	13	11	16		12.833		2.410
Chargers	18	13	11	11	12	14		13.167		2.410
Texans	16	5	21	15	19	8		14.000		5.716
Bears	19	18	13	12	9	19		15.000		3.873
Falcons	9	29	12	18	16	9		15.500		6.898
Titans	14	8	19	14	28	18		16.833		6.122
Buccaneers	20	30	7	20	6	22		17.500		8.480
Eagles	15	11	20	16	22	23		17.833		4.220
Redskins	22	12	24	21	20	15		19.000		4.163
Vikings	21	24	25	24	23	12		21.500		4.425
Seahawks	25	32	17	22	21	25		23.667		4.607
Broncos	24	20	23	23	30	26		24.333		3.091
Browns	23	25	28	29	29	13		24.500		5.590
Panthers	27	22	26	25	26	24		25.000		1.633
Chiefs	28	31	22	27	17	31		26.000		5.033
Jaguars	29	21	27	28	27	27		26.500		2.566
Dolphins	26	26	30	26	32	30		28.333		2.427
Cardinals	31	27	29	30	25	28		28.333		1.972
Rams	32	23	32	32	24	32		29.167		4.017
Colts	30	28	31	31	31	29		30.000		1.155

Observations:

• You better believe in Detroit and San Fransisco, they're both playing really well.
• Oakland is actually ranked slightly better than the Chargers.

Objective Standard Deviation

	Objective
Colts	30	28	31	31	31	29		30.000		1.155
Packers	3	4	1	1	3	1		2.167		1.213
Patriots	4	6	4	2	7	5		4.667		1.599
Panthers	27	22	26	25	26	24		25.000		1.633
Cardinals	31	27	29	30	25	28		28.333		1.972
Raiders	11	16	10	13	11	16		12.833		2.410
Chargers	18	13	11	11	12	14		13.167		2.410
Dolphins	26	26	30	26	32	30		28.333		2.427
Jaguars	29	21	27	28	27	27		26.500		2.566
Ravens	1	1	5	3	10	3		3.833		3.078
Bills	6	14	9	10	5	6		8.333		3.091
Broncos	24	20	23	23	30	26		24.333		3.091
Bears	19	18	13	12	9	19		15.000		3.873
Rams	32	23	32	32	24	32		29.167		4.017
Lions	13	9	3	6	2	2		5.833		4.059
Redskins	22	12	24	21	20	15		19.000		4.163
Eagles	15	11	20	16	22	23		17.833		4.220
Vikings	21	24	25	24	23	12		21.500		4.425
Seahawks	25	32	17	22	21	25		23.667		4.607
Giants	8	10	18	19	14	7		12.667		4.679
Jets	2	15	15	7	13	10		10.333		4.679
Bengals	12	19	14	17	4	11		12.833		4.810
Chiefs	28	31	22	27	17	31		26.000		5.033
Steelers	7	3	16	8	15	17		11.000		5.260
49ers	5	17	2	4	1	4		5.500		5.315
Saints	10	7	6	5	8	21		9.500		5.377
Browns	23	25	28	29	29	13		24.500		5.590
Texans	16	5	21	15	19	8		14.000		5.716
Titans	14	8	19	14	28	18		16.833		6.122
Cowboys	17	2	8	9	18	20		12.333		6.446
Falcons	9	29	12	18	16	9		15.500		6.898
Buccaneers	20	30	7	20	6	22		17.500		8.480

Observations:

• Holy variance, Batman! The Bucs are all over the map.
• Atlanta and Dallas are too, but much less so. With Dallas and Atlanta, they have one outlier each, skewing the results.
• San Diego is actually one of the more consistently-ranked teams. They just aren't great yet.

Overall Average

	Subj vs Obj
Packers	1.000	2.167		1.583		0.911		1.167
Ravens	2.546	3.833		3.189		1.970		1.288
Patriots	2.455	4.667		3.561		1.477		2.212
49ers	4.364	5.500		4.932		3.227		1.136
Lions	5.727	5.833		5.780		2.556		0.106
Saints	7.091	9.500		8.295		3.733		2.409
Bills	9.909	8.333		9.121		2.248		-1.576
Chargers	6.000	13.167		9.583		3.821		7.167
Steelers	8.364	11.000		9.682		3.785		2.636
Giants	10.364	12.667		11.515		3.167		2.303
Raiders	10.727	12.833		11.780		2.615		2.106
Jets	16.909	10.333		13.621		4.577		-6.576
Bengals	14.727	12.833		13.780		3.654		-1.894
Buccaneers	10.546	17.500		14.023		6.174		6.955
Texans	15.091	14.000		14.545		3.862		-1.091
Bears	15.818	15.000		15.409		2.953		-0.818
Falcons	16.000	15.500		15.750		4.630		-0.500
Cowboys	19.727	12.333		16.030		5.279		-7.394
Titans	16.455	16.833		16.644		4.131		0.379
Redskins	17.546	19.000		18.273		3.226		1.455
Eagles	19.727	17.833		18.780		2.980		-1.894
Seahawks	22.818	23.667		23.242		2.908		0.849
Browns	23.636	24.500		24.068		3.472		0.864
Panthers	23.546	25.000		24.273		1.589		1.455
Vikings	27.818	21.500		24.659		4.103		-6.318
Chiefs	24.727	26.000		25.364		3.258		1.273
Broncos	27.000	24.333		25.667		2.461		-2.667
Jaguars	28.091	26.500		27.295		2.061		-1.591
Cardinals	26.455	28.333		27.394		1.997		1.879
Dolphins	31.091	28.333		29.712		2.083		-2.758
Rams	30.818	29.167		29.992		2.579		-1.652
Colts	30.909	30.000		30.455		1.141		-0.909

Observations:

• Not much in the way of any surprises here.

Overall Standard Deviation

	Subj vs Obj
Packers	1.000	2.167		1.583		0.911		1.167
Colts	30.909	30.000		30.455		1.141		-0.909
Patriots	2.455	4.667		3.561		1.477		2.212
Panthers	23.546	25.000		24.273		1.589		1.455
Ravens	2.546	3.833		3.189		1.970		1.288
Cardinals	26.455	28.333		27.394		1.997		1.879
Jaguars	28.091	26.500		27.295		2.061		-1.591
Dolphins	31.091	28.333		29.712		2.083		-2.758
Bills	9.909	8.333		9.121		2.248		-1.576
Broncos	27.000	24.333		25.667		2.461		-2.667
Lions	5.727	5.833		5.780		2.556		0.106
Rams	30.818	29.167		29.992		2.579		-1.652
Raiders	10.727	12.833		11.780		2.615		2.106
Seahawks	22.818	23.667		23.242		2.908		0.849
Bears	15.818	15.000		15.409		2.953		-0.818
Eagles	19.727	17.833		18.780		2.980		-1.894
Giants	10.364	12.667		11.515		3.167		2.303
Redskins	17.546	19.000		18.273		3.226		1.455
49ers	4.364	5.500		4.932		3.227		1.136
Chiefs	24.727	26.000		25.364		3.258		1.273
Browns	23.636	24.500		24.068		3.472		0.864
Bengals	14.727	12.833		13.780		3.654		-1.894
Saints	7.091	9.500		8.295		3.733		2.409
Steelers	8.364	11.000		9.682		3.785		2.636
Chargers	6.000	13.167		9.583		3.821		7.167
Texans	15.091	14.000		14.545		3.862		-1.091
Vikings	27.818	21.500		24.659		4.103		-6.318
Titans	16.455	16.833		16.644		4.131		0.379
Jets	16.909	10.333		13.621		4.577		-6.576
Falcons	16.000	15.500		15.750		4.630		-0.500
Cowboys	19.727	12.333		16.030		5.279		-7.394
Buccaneers	10.546	17.500		14.023		6.174		6.955

Observations:

• Tampa Bay still leading the list here.
• As is typical, the closer you get to the extremes, the more consistent the rankings.
• Chargers are now further down on this list once you factor in all the rankings. A lot of that has to do with the next chart ...

Difference in Averages

	Subj vs Obj
Chargers	6.000	13.167		9.583		3.821		7.167
Buccaneers	10.546	17.500		14.023		6.174		6.955
Steelers	8.364	11.000		9.682		3.785		2.636
Saints	7.091	9.500		8.295		3.733		2.409
Giants	10.364	12.667		11.515		3.167		2.303
Patriots	2.455	4.667		3.561		1.477		2.212
Raiders	10.727	12.833		11.780		2.615		2.106
Cardinals	26.455	28.333		27.394		1.997		1.879
Panthers	23.546	25.000		24.273		1.589		1.455
Redskins	17.546	19.000		18.273		3.226		1.455
Ravens	2.546	3.833		3.189		1.970		1.288
Chiefs	24.727	26.000		25.364		3.258		1.273
Packers	1.000	2.167		1.583		0.911		1.167
49ers	4.364	5.500		4.932		3.227		1.136
Browns	23.636	24.500		24.068		3.472		0.864
Seahawks	22.818	23.667		23.242		2.908		0.849
Titans	16.455	16.833		16.644		4.131		0.379
Lions	5.727	5.833		5.780		2.556		0.106
Falcons	16.000	15.500		15.750		4.630		-0.500
Bears	15.818	15.000		15.409		2.953		-0.818
Colts	30.909	30.000		30.455		1.141		-0.909
Texans	15.091	14.000		14.545		3.862		-1.091
Bills	9.909	8.333		9.121		2.248		-1.576
Jaguars	28.091	26.500		27.295		2.061		-1.591
Rams	30.818	29.167		29.992		2.579		-1.652
Bengals	14.727	12.833		13.780		3.654		-1.894
Eagles	19.727	17.833		18.780		2.980		-1.894
Broncos	27.000	24.333		25.667		2.461		-2.667
Dolphins	31.091	28.333		29.712		2.083		-2.758
Vikings	27.818	21.500		24.659		4.103		-6.318
Jets	16.909	10.333		13.621		4.577		-6.576
Cowboys	19.727	12.333		16.030		5.279		-7.394

Observations:

• Well, San Diego is back atop the Most Overrated list. Tampa Bay is not at all that far behind.
• From there it's not all that close. All other teams are within ±3 spots.
• That is until you get to the bottom 3 teams. The Vikings, Jets, and Cowboys are all outperforming the prevailing perception of those teams.

Sources

• ESPN
• Fox
• CBS
• USA Today
• Sports Illustrated
• ProFootballTalk
• NFL.com
• SportingNews
• Pro Football Weekly
• National Football Post
• Reddit
• Football Outsiders
• Team Efficiency
• Team Rankings
• Sagarin
• BeatGraphs
• Aikman Efficiency