2011 NFL Power Rankings from Around the Web: Week 15

Well would you look at that: the Chargers have strung together a nice little two-game winning streak. What's more, they're actually blowing-out the teams they're supposed to; and the rankings this week reflect the glimmer of hope in San Diego.

However, enough about these underperformers. The big story this week is TEBOW. You think it's bad living in San Diego having to hear about him? Try actually living in Denver. As you'll see shortly, everybody and their mother has hitched their wagon to Tebow; however, the stats don't quite back it up. Maybe all the objective sites need to add in a metric for "Tebow Factor" or something along those lines, because frankly, the Broncos still aren't that great when just looking at their performances objectively.

Ahh crap, even I can't get away from talking about him. Okay, back to the stats. This week, the Chargers take on the Baltimore Ravens. Going by the rankings alone, this will be their biggest test since playing the Packers, and a bigger test than when they played New England. The Chargers are climbing the rankings again, after bottoming out in the upper-20s. After it looked like the AFC West was going to be a two-team race between the Raiders and Broncos, well now the Chargers and Raiders appear to be going in opposite directions. There is still hope, but it's going to be ridiculously frustrating from many different angles if the Chargers end up winning out, but miss the playoffs.

Notable Quotes

ESPN

Back to life, but it's likely too late for them to salvage the season and prevent overhaul moves.

Fox Sports

Believe it or not, the Chargers still have a realistic shot at making the playoffs. With the Broncos playing their toughest opponent since Tim Tebow took over as starting QB, and the Raiders' continuous downward spiral, don't count out the Chargers. It will be a long shot, but it's not uncommon for the Chargers to find a way to pull this type of scenario off.

Sports Illustrated

Sorry Philip Rivers and your fellow Norv-men. You woke up at least one week too late this time. Looks like you've all been Tebowed. But join the crowd. And hey, it's almost a status symbol at this point.

On to the numbers!

Division Averages

Wow, even with the Colts and Jaguars in the same division, the AFC South couldn't quite match the NFC West's futility.

Surprises

With the 49ers slipping a bit lately, Denver takes over the top spot as the biggest surprise thus far this season.

Disappointments

Woot! The Chargers have almost fallen off the "disappointments" list.

Subjective Average

	Subjective
Packers	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
Ravens	2	3	2	3	3	2	2	3	3	3		2.600		0.490
Saints	3	4	5	2	2	5	3	2	2	2		3.000		1.183
Steelers	4	5	4	4	4	3	4	4	4	4		4.000		0.447
Patriots	5	2	6	5	5	4	5	5	5	6		4.800		1.077
49ers	6	7	7	6	6	7	6	6	6	5		6.200		0.600
Texans	7	6	3	7	7	6	7	7	7	7		6.400		1.200
Falcons	8	10	8	8	8	9	9	8	10	8		8.600		0.800
Jets	10	9	10	9	10	10	8	9	9	10		9.400		0.663
Broncos	9	8	9	11	9	8	10	11	8	11		9.400		1.200
Giants	12	12	12	10	12	11	11	10	12	9		11.100		1.044
Lions	11	11	11	14	11	12	13	14	11	12		12.000		1.183
Cowboys	14	15	13	12	13	13	12	12	14	14		13.200		0.980
Titans	13	13	15	13	14	15	14	13	13	15		13.800		0.872
Bengals	15	14	16	17	16	16	15	17	17	13		15.600		1.281
Raiders	16	19	14	15	19	14	18	15	16	16		16.200		1.778
Bears	17	18	17	19	20	18	16	19	15	17		17.600		1.428
Chargers	18	20	21	16	15	17	19	16	18	18		17.800		1.778
Cardinals	19	16	20	21	17	20	17	21	19	19		18.900		1.640
Seahawks	20	17	18	22	18	19	20	22	20	20		19.600		1.562
Eagles	21	21	19	18	21	25	21	18	23	21		20.800		2.040
Dolphins	23	24	24	20	22	21	23	20	22	24		22.300		1.487
Bills	22	25	25	25	23	24	22	25	21	23		23.500		1.432
Panthers	24	23	26	23	24	23	25	23	26	22		23.900		1.300
Chiefs	25	30	23	29	26	22	24	29	24	25		25.700		2.610
Jaguars	26	26	22	24	27	26	27	24	29	26		25.700		1.847
Redskins	27	22	29	28	25	28	26	28	27	27		26.700		1.900
Browns	29	27	28	26	28	27	28	26	28	28		27.500		0.922
Buccaneers	28	29	27	27	29	29	29	27	25	29		27.900		1.300
Vikings	30	28	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30		29.800		0.600
Rams	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31		31.000		0.000
Colts	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32		32.000		0.000

Observations:

• Broncos in the top 10? Blech.
• Chargers are up 3 spots this week. Raiders drop 3 spots.
• The bottom three teams was almost a unanimous placement.
• The Ravens? *gulp*

Subjective Standard Deviation

	Subjective
Rams	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31		31.000		0.000
Colts	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32		32.000		0.000
Packers	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
Steelers	4	5	4	4	4	3	4	4	4	4		4.000		0.447
Ravens	2	3	2	3	3	2	2	3	3	3		2.600		0.490
49ers	6	7	7	6	6	7	6	6	6	5		6.200		0.600
Vikings	30	28	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30		29.800		0.600
Jets	10	9	10	9	10	10	8	9	9	10		9.400		0.663
Falcons	8	10	8	8	8	9	9	8	10	8		8.600		0.800
Titans	13	13	15	13	14	15	14	13	13	15		13.800		0.872
Browns	29	27	28	26	28	27	28	26	28	28		27.500		0.922
Cowboys	14	15	13	12	13	13	12	12	14	14		13.200		0.980
Giants	12	12	12	10	12	11	11	10	12	9		11.100		1.044
Patriots	5	2	6	5	5	4	5	5	5	6		4.800		1.077
Saints	3	4	5	2	2	5	3	2	2	2		3.000		1.183
Lions	11	11	11	14	11	12	13	14	11	12		12.000		1.183
Broncos	9	8	9	11	9	8	10	11	8	11		9.400		1.200
Texans	7	6	3	7	7	6	7	7	7	7		6.400		1.200
Bengals	15	14	16	17	16	16	15	17	17	13		15.600		1.281
Panthers	24	23	26	23	24	23	25	23	26	22		23.900		1.300
Buccaneers	28	29	27	27	29	29	29	27	25	29		27.900		1.300
Bears	17	18	17	19	20	18	16	19	15	17		17.600		1.428
Bills	22	25	25	25	23	24	22	25	21	23		23.500		1.432
Dolphins	23	24	24	20	22	21	23	20	22	24		22.300		1.487
Seahawks	20	17	18	22	18	19	20	22	20	20		19.600		1.562
Cardinals	19	16	20	21	17	20	17	21	19	19		18.900		1.640
Raiders	16	19	14	15	19	14	18	15	16	16		16.200		1.778
Chargers	18	20	21	16	15	17	19	16	18	18		17.800		1.778
Jaguars	26	26	22	24	27	26	27	24	29	26		25.700		1.847
Redskins	27	22	29	28	25	28	26	28	27	27		26.700		1.900
Eagles	21	21	19	18	21	25	21	18	23	21		20.800		2.040
Chiefs	25	30	23	29	26	22	24	29	24	25		25.700		2.610

Observations:

• Wow, I can't believe how much the Chiefs are all over the map.
• Chargers and Raiders are equally inconsistently-ranked.

Objective Average

	Objective
Packers	3	3	1	1	2	3		2.167		0.898
Texans	2	1	3	2	4	2		2.333		0.943
Ravens	4	7	4	3	1	1		3.333		2.055
Steelers	1	2	2	5	6	11		4.500		3.403
Saints	8	5	5	4	3	9		5.667		2.134
Patriots	5	4	6	6	13	5		6.500		2.986
49ers	9	17	7	7	5	4		8.167		4.259
Falcons	6	11	9	10	9	6		8.500		1.893
Jets	7	12	10	9	14	7		9.833		2.544
Lions	12	10	14	8	7	8		9.833		2.478
Giants	13	6	13	17	12	16		12.833		3.532
Bears	10	15	16	11	17	10		13.167		2.911
Bengals	15	13	12	12	10	20		13.667		3.197
Titans	11	18	15	13	16	13		14.333		2.285
Cowboys	14	8	21	15	19	12		14.833		4.298
Chargers	16	14	19	16	20	15		16.667		2.134
Broncos	20	24	8	14	8	27		16.833		7.403
Eagles	17	9	20	19	27	18		18.333		5.281
Raiders	22	16	17	18	15	22		18.333		2.749
Seahawks	19	25	18	21	11	17		18.500		4.233
Dolphins	18	20	22	20	21	14		19.167		2.609
Cardinals	27	22	11	23	25	25		22.167		5.241
Panthers	21	23	26	25	26	19		23.333		2.625
Browns	25	27	25	29	18	24		24.667		3.399
Jaguars	23	26	24	24	28	23		24.667		1.795
Bills	29	19	29	22	22	28		24.833		3.976
Redskins	24	21	27	28	30	26		26.000		2.887
Chiefs	26	31	23	26	23	29		26.333		2.925
Vikings	28	28	28	30	24	21		26.500		3.041
Buccaneers	30	30	31	27	29	30		29.500		1.258
Rams	31	29	30	31	31	31		30.500		0.764
Colts	32	32	32	32	32	32		32.000		0.000

Observations:

• Wow, Texans are dangerously close to taking the top spot away from the undefeated Packers.
• Ravens are good, but vulnerable.
• Hmph, Broncos are ranked below the Chargers now. Guess there's still no objective way to account for the "Tebow Factor."

Objective Standard Deviation

	Objective
Colts	32	32	32	32	32	32		32.000		0.000
Rams	31	29	30	31	31	31		30.500		0.764
Packers	3	3	1	1	2	3		2.167		0.898
Texans	2	1	3	2	4	2		2.333		0.943
Buccaneers	30	30	31	27	29	30		29.500		1.258
Jaguars	23	26	24	24	28	23		24.667		1.795
Falcons	6	11	9	10	9	6		8.500		1.893
Ravens	4	7	4	3	1	1		3.333		2.055
Saints	8	5	5	4	3	9		5.667		2.134
Chargers	16	14	19	16	20	15		16.667		2.134
Titans	11	18	15	13	16	13		14.333		2.285
Lions	12	10	14	8	7	8		9.833		2.478
Jets	7	12	10	9	14	7		9.833		2.544
Dolphins	18	20	22	20	21	14		19.167		2.609
Panthers	21	23	26	25	26	19		23.333		2.625
Raiders	22	16	17	18	15	22		18.333		2.749
Redskins	24	21	27	28	30	26		26.000		2.887
Bears	10	15	16	11	17	10		13.167		2.911
Chiefs	26	31	23	26	23	29		26.333		2.925
Patriots	5	4	6	6	13	5		6.500		2.986
Vikings	28	28	28	30	24	21		26.500		3.041
Bengals	15	13	12	12	10	20		13.667		3.197
Browns	25	27	25	29	18	24		24.667		3.399
Steelers	1	2	2	5	6	11		4.500		3.403
Giants	13	6	13	17	12	16		12.833		3.532
Bills	29	19	29	22	22	28		24.833		3.976
Seahawks	19	25	18	21	11	17		18.500		4.233
49ers	9	17	7	7	5	4		8.167		4.259
Cowboys	14	8	21	15	19	12		14.833		4.298
Cardinals	27	22	11	23	25	25		22.167		5.241
Eagles	17	9	20	19	27	18		18.333		5.281
Broncos	20	24	8	14	8	27		16.833		7.403

Observations:

• Wow, way to overachjeve, Denver.
• Objective rankings sites tend to not agree with each other at all. Well, except when it comes to the Colts: they stink.

Overall Average

	Subj vs Obj
Packers	1.000	2.167		1.583		0.788		1.167
Ravens	2.600	3.333		2.967		1.364		0.733
Steelers	4.000	4.500		4.250		2.128		0.500
Saints	3.000	5.667		4.333		2.062		2.667
Texans	6.400	2.333		4.367		2.260		-4.067
Patriots	4.800	6.500		5.650		2.179		1.700
49ers	6.200	8.167		7.183		2.817		1.967
Falcons	8.600	8.500		8.550		1.321		-0.100
Jets	9.400	9.833		9.617		1.657		0.433
Lions	12.000	9.833		10.917		2.068		-2.167
Giants	11.100	12.833		11.967		2.462		1.733
Broncos	9.400	16.833		13.117		5.865		7.433
Cowboys	13.200	14.833		14.017		2.855		1.633
Titans	13.800	14.333		14.067		1.581		0.533
Bengals	15.600	13.667		14.633		2.395		-1.933
Bears	17.600	13.167		15.383		3.010		-4.433
Chargers	17.800	16.667		17.233		1.996		-1.133
Raiders	16.200	18.333		17.267		2.424		2.133
Seahawks	19.600	18.500		19.050		2.920		-1.100
Eagles	20.800	18.333		19.567		3.806		-2.467
Cardinals	18.900	22.167		20.533		3.806		3.267
Dolphins	22.300	19.167		20.733		2.497		-3.133
Panthers	23.900	23.333		23.617		1.927		-0.567
Bills	23.500	24.833		24.167		2.761		1.333
Jaguars	25.700	24.667		25.183		1.895		-1.033
Chiefs	25.700	26.333		26.017		2.749		0.633
Browns	27.500	24.667		26.083		2.597		-2.833
Redskins	26.700	26.000		26.350		2.344		-0.700
Vikings	29.800	26.500		28.150		2.499		-3.300
Buccaneers	27.900	29.500		28.700		1.500		1.600
Rams	31.000	30.500		30.750		0.527		-0.500
Colts	32.000	32.000		32.000		0.000		0.000

Observations:

• Looks about right ...

Overall Standard Deviation

	Subj vs Obj
Colts	32.000	32.000		32.000		0.000		0.000
Rams	31.000	30.500		30.750		0.527		-0.500
Packers	1.000	2.167		1.583		0.788		1.167
Falcons	8.600	8.500		8.550		1.321		-0.100
Ravens	2.600	3.333		2.967		1.364		0.733
Buccaneers	27.900	29.500		28.700		1.500		1.600
Titans	13.800	14.333		14.067		1.581		0.533
Jets	9.400	9.833		9.617		1.657		0.433
Jaguars	25.700	24.667		25.183		1.895		-1.033
Panthers	23.900	23.333		23.617		1.927		-0.567
Chargers	17.800	16.667		17.233		1.996		-1.133
Saints	3.000	5.667		4.333		2.062		2.667
Lions	12.000	9.833		10.917		2.068		-2.167
Steelers	4.000	4.500		4.250		2.128		0.500
Patriots	4.800	6.500		5.650		2.179		1.700
Texans	6.400	2.333		4.367		2.260		-4.067
Redskins	26.700	26.000		26.350		2.344		-0.700
Bengals	15.600	13.667		14.633		2.395		-1.933
Raiders	16.200	18.333		17.267		2.424		2.133
Giants	11.100	12.833		11.967		2.462		1.733
Dolphins	22.300	19.167		20.733		2.497		-3.133
Vikings	29.800	26.500		28.150		2.499		-3.300
Browns	27.500	24.667		26.083		2.597		-2.833
Chiefs	25.700	26.333		26.017		2.749		0.633
Bills	23.500	24.833		24.167		2.761		1.333
49ers	6.200	8.167		7.183		2.817		1.967
Cowboys	13.200	14.833		14.017		2.855		1.633
Seahawks	19.600	18.500		19.050		2.920		-1.100
Bears	17.600	13.167		15.383		3.010		-4.433
Cardinals	18.900	22.167		20.533		3.806		3.267
Eagles	20.800	18.333		19.567		3.806		-2.467
Broncos	9.400	16.833		13.117		5.865		7.433

Difference in Averages

	Subj vs Obj
Broncos	9.400	16.833		13.117		5.865		7.433
Cardinals	18.900	22.167		20.533		3.806		3.267
Saints	3.000	5.667		4.333		2.062		2.667
Raiders	16.200	18.333		17.267		2.424		2.133
49ers	6.200	8.167		7.183		2.817		1.967
Giants	11.100	12.833		11.967		2.462		1.733
Patriots	4.800	6.500		5.650		2.179		1.700
Cowboys	13.200	14.833		14.017		2.855		1.633
Buccaneers	27.900	29.500		28.700		1.500		1.600
Bills	23.500	24.833		24.167		2.761		1.333
Packers	1.000	2.167		1.583		0.788		1.167
Ravens	2.600	3.333		2.967		1.364		0.733
Chiefs	25.700	26.333		26.017		2.749		0.633
Titans	13.800	14.333		14.067		1.581		0.533
Steelers	4.000	4.500		4.250		2.128		0.500
Jets	9.400	9.833		9.617		1.657		0.433
Colts	32.000	32.000		32.000		0.000		0.000
Falcons	8.600	8.500		8.550		1.321		-0.100
Rams	31.000	30.500		30.750		0.527		-0.500
Panthers	23.900	23.333		23.617		1.927		-0.567
Redskins	26.700	26.000		26.350		2.344		-0.700
Jaguars	25.700	24.667		25.183		1.895		-1.033
Seahawks	19.600	18.500		19.050		2.920		-1.100
Chargers	17.800	16.667		17.233		1.996		-1.133
Bengals	15.600	13.667		14.633		2.395		-1.933
Lions	12.000	9.833		10.917		2.068		-2.167
Eagles	20.800	18.333		19.567		3.806		-2.467
Browns	27.500	24.667		26.083		2.597		-2.833
Dolphins	22.300	19.167		20.733		2.497		-3.133
Vikings	29.800	26.500		28.150		2.499		-3.300
Texans	6.400	2.333		4.367		2.260		-4.067
Bears	17.600	13.167		15.383		3.010		-4.433

Observations:

• I think we all suspected it, but it's true, the Denver Broncos are the most overrated NFL Team (this week). It's not even close either. They're ranked over 7 spots too high, and yet their next closest overrated team — the Arizona Cardinals — is overrated but just over 3 spots. Is this religion vs science all over again?
• Looks like the Raiders tumble isn't over yet.
• Chargers are underranked again this week.
• What will it take for people to buy into the Texans?
• Wow, looks like everyone's giving up on the Bears.

Sources

• ESPN
• Fox
• CBS
• USA Today
• Sports Illustrated
• ProFootballTalk
• Pro Football Weekly
• National Football Post
• SB Nation
• Reddit
• Football Outsiders
• Team Efficiency
• Team Rankings
• Sagarin
• BeatGraphs
• Aikman Efficiency