2011 NFL Power Rankings from Around the Web: Week 14

Hey, the Chargers won! The last time that happened, we hadn't even celebrated Columbus day yet. It may have been against the lowly Jaguars of Jacksonville, but there's one steadfast rule about winning: feels good, man.

Okay, there are those of us around here that think winning is the last the these Chargers should be doing. We need to climb the draft board as much as possible at this point, pride be damned. I don't really fall into either camp, I can certainly see the merit in throwing in the towl and making the best of a crappy situation. On the flip side, I like to win.

Anyway, what's interesting this week with regards to our beloved Chargers, despite the fact that they blew out the Jaguars, some of the subjective rankers still dropped them in their rankings &emdash; sometimes as much as 4 spots as in the case in CBS's rankings. How does one explain that? Overall, they did climb the rankings, albeit slightly. They did climb the Objective rankings a bit more.

Notable Quotes

Fox Sports

The Chargers finally played like the team I predicted to win the Super Bowl, but let's not forget it was against the Jaguars. Inside the locker room, they are still hoping to win out and make the playoffs, but that is a long shot, even for the Chargers.

SBNation

We've seen the Chargers at 4-7 turn around and qualify for the playoffs. Just sayin', crazier things have happened.

Sports Illustrated

It doesn't seem remotely fair that the Chargers could have unearthed another receiving weapon named Vincent. I mean, Vincent Jackson would be plenty enough for most teams, but now San Diego has rookie Vincent Brown to pair with him. Brown, a third-round pick out of San Diego State, has come on of late, catching 14 passes for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his past five games. Two big-play receiving Vincents just begs for a nickname of some sort.

Division Averages

Surprises

Disappointments

Subjective Average

	Subjective
Packers	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
Ravens	2	3	2	2	3	2	3	3	3	2	3	4		2.667		0.624
Saints	4	6	6	3	2	5	2	6	6	3	2	3		4.000		1.633
49ers	3	4	3	6	4	6	4	5	2	6	4	2		4.083		1.382
Steelers	5	5	5	5	5	3	5	4	4	5	5	5		4.667		0.624
Patriots	6	2	7	4	6	4	6	2	5	4	6	6		4.833		1.572
Texans	7	7	4	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7		6.750		0.829
Falcons	8	10	8	8	8	11	11	10	10	8	16	8		9.667		2.249
Broncos	10	8	10	12	9	9	8	8	11	12	8	16		10.083		2.290
Cowboys	9	15	9	10	11	8	12	9	9	10	10	13		10.417		1.935
Jets	11	9	11	9	10	12	9	14	8	9	12	12		10.500		1.708
Lions	12	11	13	13	12	14	16	11	16	13	11	10		12.667		1.841
Raiders	15	12	12	14	14	10	15	12	14	14	14	15		13.417		1.498
Titans	13	13	15	15	13	13	14	16	12	15	9	14		13.500		1.756
Bengals	14	14	14	17	15	15	10	15	13	17	15	9		14.000		2.309
Giants	16	16	17	11	16	16	13	17	15	11	17	11		14.667		2.357
Bears	17	17	16	16	17	17	17	13	17	16	13	17		16.083		1.441
Dolphins	22	20	19	18	19	21	18	19	21	18	24	20		19.917		1.754
Chargers	21	22	26	19	18	19	21	18	22	19	18	18		20.083		2.326
Seahawks	19	18	22	24	20	18	19	21	18	24	21	19		20.250		2.087
Cardinals	18	21	24	22	21	20	20	22	19	22	20	22		20.917		1.552
Bills	20	19	21	21	22	24	23	23	20	21	22	21		21.417		1.382
Chiefs	23	28	18	23	24	22	24	27	23	23	19	24		23.167		2.672
Eagles	24	23	20	26	23	25	25	20	25	26	25	25		23.917		1.977
Panthers	25	24	23	25	25	23	22	24	24	25	26	23		24.083		1.115
Buccaneers	26	27	25	20	27	26	26	25	28	20	23	26		24.917		2.499
Redskins	27	25	28	28	26	28	27	28	26	28	28	28		27.250		1.010
Browns	28	30	27	27	28	27	28	29	27	27	27	27		27.667		0.943
Vikings	30	26	29	30	30	30	29	26	30	30	30	30		29.167		1.463
Jaguars	29	29	30	29	29	29	30	30	29	29	29	29		29.250		0.433
Rams	31	31	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	32		32.000		0.000

Observations:

• Is there any surprise about who the bookends are?
• It's the Packers, Ravens at the top. Then the Saints, 49ers, Steelers, and Patriots all duking it out. Those four teems are within one position of each other, on average.
• You'll notice CBS has the Texans in 4th, while literally every other subjective ranking has them in 7th. CBS may seem off base, but you'll see shortly, they're not off base.
• The Broncos have cracked the top-10 for the first time in how many years? Here's hoping they have another epic collapse to end the season. That'd be delicious

Subjective Standard Deviation

	Subjective
Rams	31	31	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	32		32.000		0.000
Packers	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
Jaguars	29	29	30	29	29	29	30	30	29	29	29	29		29.250		0.433
Ravens	2	3	2	2	3	2	3	3	3	2	3	4		2.667		0.624
Steelers	5	5	5	5	5	3	5	4	4	5	5	5		4.667		0.624
Texans	7	7	4	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7		6.750		0.829
Browns	28	30	27	27	28	27	28	29	27	27	27	27		27.667		0.943
Redskins	27	25	28	28	26	28	27	28	26	28	28	28		27.250		1.010
Panthers	25	24	23	25	25	23	22	24	24	25	26	23		24.083		1.115
Bills	20	19	21	21	22	24	23	23	20	21	22	21		21.417		1.382
49ers	3	4	3	6	4	6	4	5	2	6	4	2		4.083		1.382
Bears	17	17	16	16	17	17	17	13	17	16	13	17		16.083		1.441
Vikings	30	26	29	30	30	30	29	26	30	30	30	30		29.167		1.463
Raiders	15	12	12	14	14	10	15	12	14	14	14	15		13.417		1.498
Cardinals	18	21	24	22	21	20	20	22	19	22	20	22		20.917		1.552
Patriots	6	2	7	4	6	4	6	2	5	4	6	6		4.833		1.572
Saints	4	6	6	3	2	5	2	6	6	3	2	3		4.000		1.633
Jets	11	9	11	9	10	12	9	14	8	9	12	12		10.500		1.708
Dolphins	22	20	19	18	19	21	18	19	21	18	24	20		19.917		1.754
Titans	13	13	15	15	13	13	14	16	12	15	9	14		13.500		1.756
Lions	12	11	13	13	12	14	16	11	16	13	11	10		12.667		1.841
Cowboys	9	15	9	10	11	8	12	9	9	10	10	13		10.417		1.935
Eagles	24	23	20	26	23	25	25	20	25	26	25	25		23.917		1.977
Seahawks	19	18	22	24	20	18	19	21	18	24	21	19		20.250		2.087
Falcons	8	10	8	8	8	11	11	10	10	8	16	8		9.667		2.249
Broncos	10	8	10	12	9	9	8	8	11	12	8	16		10.083		2.290
Bengals	14	14	14	17	15	15	10	15	13	17	15	9		14.000		2.309
Chargers	21	22	26	19	18	19	21	18	22	19	18	18		20.083		2.326
Giants	16	16	17	11	16	16	13	17	15	11	17	11		14.667		2.357
Buccaneers	26	27	25	20	27	26	26	25	28	20	23	26		24.917		2.499
Chiefs	23	28	18	23	24	22	24	27	23	23	19	24		23.167		2.672

Observations:

• The only thing saving the Rams from being the worst team in the league is Curtis Painter (apologies to Wonko).

Objective Average

	Objective
Packers	3	3	1	1	1		1.800		0.980
Texans	1	1	4	4	4		2.800		1.470
Steelers	2	2	2	5	6		3.400		1.744
Ravens	6	7	3	2	2		4.000		2.098
Saints	7	4	7	7	3		5.600		1.744
49ers	9	11	5	3	5		6.600		2.939
Patriots	4	5	6	6	14		7.000		3.578
Falcons	8	12	9	11	7		9.400		1.855
Lions	13	9	13	8	8		10.200		2.315
Jets	5	13	11	9	16		10.800		3.709
Titans	12	20	12	13	9		13.200		3.655
Giants	11	6	20	18	13		13.600		5.004
Bengals	17	18	10	12	11		13.600		3.262
Bears	10	15	17	10	17		13.800		3.188
Cowboys	15	8	16	14	20		14.600		3.878
Broncos	18	23	8	15	10		14.800		5.419
Raiders	21	14	15	16	15		16.200		2.482
Dolphins	14	17	14	17	22		16.800		2.926
Eagles	16	10	23	21	27		19.400		5.886
Chargers	20	16	21	19	21		19.400		1.855
Seahawks	22	25	22	22	12		20.600		4.454
Bills	23	19	25	20	23		22.000		2.191
Panthers	19	22	24	25	28		23.600		3.007
Cardinals	30	24	18	23	26		24.200		3.919
Chiefs	25	31	19	26	24		25.000		3.847
Buccaneers	24	29	30	24	18		25.000		4.290
Browns	26	26	26	29	19		25.200		3.311
Redskins	27	21	27	28	30		26.600		3.007
Jaguars	28	27	29	27	29		28.000		0.894
Vikings	29	28	28	30	25		28.000		1.673
Rams	31	30	31	31	32		31.000		0.633
Colts	32	32	32	32	31		31.800		0.400

Observations:

• Remember earlier when I said

  You'll notice CBS has the Texans in 4th, while literally every other subjective ranking has them in 7th. CBS may seem off base, but you'll see shortly, they're not off base.

  I told you I said that. Anyway, look at how high the Texans are ranked objectively. Two different sites have them at #1; the other 3 have them at #4, exactly where CBS placed them.

Objective Standard Deviation

	Objective
Colts	32	32	32	32	31		31.800		0.400
Rams	31	30	31	31	32		31.000		0.633
Jaguars	28	27	29	27	29		28.000		0.894
Packers	3	3	1	1	1		1.800		0.980
Texans	1	1	4	4	4		2.800		1.470
Vikings	29	28	28	30	25		28.000		1.673
Saints	7	4	7	7	3		5.600		1.744
Steelers	2	2	2	5	6		3.400		1.744
Falcons	8	12	9	11	7		9.400		1.855
Chargers	20	16	21	19	21		19.400		1.855
Ravens	6	7	3	2	2		4.000		2.098
Bills	23	19	25	20	23		22.000		2.191
Lions	13	9	13	8	8		10.200		2.315
Raiders	21	14	15	16	15		16.200		2.482
Dolphins	14	17	14	17	22		16.800		2.926
49ers	9	11	5	3	5		6.600		2.939
Panthers	19	22	24	25	28		23.600		3.007
Redskins	27	21	27	28	30		26.600		3.007
Bears	10	15	17	10	17		13.800		3.188
Bengals	17	18	10	12	11		13.600		3.262
Browns	26	26	26	29	19		25.200		3.311
Patriots	4	5	6	6	14		7.000		3.578
Titans	12	20	12	13	9		13.200		3.655
Jets	5	13	11	9	16		10.800		3.709
Chiefs	25	31	19	26	24		25.000		3.847
Cowboys	15	8	16	14	20		14.600		3.878
Cardinals	30	24	18	23	26		24.200		3.919
Buccaneers	24	29	30	24	18		25.000		4.290
Seahawks	22	25	22	22	12		20.600		4.454
Giants	11	6	20	18	13		13.600		5.004
Broncos	18	23	8	15	10		14.800		5.419
Eagles	16	10	23	21	27		19.400		5.886

Observations:

• Chargers one of the more consistently-ranked teams. At least we know they're consistently mediocre.
• Broncos are all over the map, with Philadelphia.

Overall Average

	Subj vs Obj
Packers	1.000	1.800		1.400		0.644		0.800
Ravens	2.667	4.000		3.333		1.392		1.333
Steelers	4.667	3.400		4.033		1.226		-1.267
Texans	6.750	2.800		4.775		2.088		-3.950
Saints	4.000	5.600		4.800		1.819		1.600
49ers	4.083	6.600		5.342		2.281		2.517
Patriots	4.833	7.000		5.917		2.547		2.167
Falcons	9.667	9.400		9.533		2.144		-0.267
Jets	10.500	10.800		10.650		2.475		0.300
Lions	12.667	10.200		11.433		2.287		-2.467
Broncos	10.083	14.800		12.442		4.118		4.717
Cowboys	10.417	14.600		12.508		3.271		4.183
Titans	13.500	13.200		13.350		2.475		-0.300
Bengals	14.000	13.600		13.800		2.632		-0.400
Giants	14.667	13.600		14.133		3.395		-1.067
Raiders	13.417	16.200		14.808		2.237		2.783
Bears	16.083	13.800		14.942		2.353		-2.283
Dolphins	19.917	16.800		18.358		2.590		-3.117
Chargers	20.083	19.400		19.742		2.220		-0.683
Seahawks	20.250	20.600		20.425		2.989		0.350
Eagles	23.917	19.400		21.658		4.145		-4.517
Bills	21.417	22.000		21.708		1.682		0.583
Cardinals	20.917	24.200		22.558		2.908		3.283
Panthers	24.083	23.600		23.842		1.893		-0.483
Chiefs	23.167	25.000		24.083		3.177		1.833
Buccaneers	24.917	25.000		24.958		3.134		0.083
Browns	27.667	25.200		26.433		2.262		-2.467
Redskins	27.250	26.600		26.925		1.862		-0.650
Vikings	29.167	28.000		28.583		1.617		-1.167
Jaguars	29.250	28.000		28.625		0.832		-1.250
Rams	31.000	31.000		31.000		0.343		0.000
Colts	32.000	31.800		31.900		0.235		-0.200

Overall Standard Deviation

	Subj vs Obj
Colts	32.000	31.800		31.900		0.235		-0.200
Rams	31.000	31.000		31.000		0.343		0.000
Packers	1.000	1.800		1.400		0.644		0.800
Jaguars	29.250	28.000		28.625		0.832		-1.250
Steelers	4.667	3.400		4.033		1.226		-1.267
Ravens	2.667	4.000		3.333		1.392		1.333
Vikings	29.167	28.000		28.583		1.617		-1.167
Bills	21.417	22.000		21.708		1.682		0.583
Saints	4.000	5.600		4.800		1.819		1.600
Redskins	27.250	26.600		26.925		1.862		-0.650
Panthers	24.083	23.600		23.842		1.893		-0.483
Texans	6.750	2.800		4.775		2.088		-3.950
Falcons	9.667	9.400		9.533		2.144		-0.267
Chargers	20.083	19.400		19.742		2.220		-0.683
Raiders	13.417	16.200		14.808		2.237		2.783
Browns	27.667	25.200		26.433		2.262		-2.467
49ers	4.083	6.600		5.342		2.281		2.517
Lions	12.667	10.200		11.433		2.287		-2.467
Bears	16.083	13.800		14.942		2.353		-2.283
Titans	13.500	13.200		13.350		2.475		-0.300
Jets	10.500	10.800		10.650		2.475		0.300
Patriots	4.833	7.000		5.917		2.547		2.167
Dolphins	19.917	16.800		18.358		2.590		-3.117
Bengals	14.000	13.600		13.800		2.632		-0.400
Cardinals	20.917	24.200		22.558		2.908		3.283
Seahawks	20.250	20.600		20.425		2.989		0.350
Buccaneers	24.917	25.000		24.958		3.134		0.083
Chiefs	23.167	25.000		24.083		3.177		1.833
Cowboys	10.417	14.600		12.508		3.271		4.183
Giants	14.667	13.600		14.133		3.395		-1.067
Broncos	10.083	14.800		12.442		4.118		4.717
Eagles	23.917	19.400		21.658		4.145		-4.517

Difference in Averages

	Subj vs Obj
Broncos	10.083	14.800		12.442		4.118		4.717
Cowboys	10.417	14.600		12.508		3.271		4.183
Cardinals	20.917	24.200		22.558		2.908		3.283
Raiders	13.417	16.200		14.808		2.237		2.783
49ers	4.083	6.600		5.342		2.281		2.517
Patriots	4.833	7.000		5.917		2.547		2.167
Chiefs	23.167	25.000		24.083		3.177		1.833
Saints	4.000	5.600		4.800		1.819		1.600
Ravens	2.667	4.000		3.333		1.392		1.333
Packers	1.000	1.800		1.400		0.644		0.800
Bills	21.417	22.000		21.708		1.682		0.583
Seahawks	20.250	20.600		20.425		2.989		0.350
Jets	10.500	10.800		10.650		2.475		0.300
Buccaneers	24.917	25.000		24.958		3.134		0.083
Rams	31.000	31.000		31.000		0.343		0.000
Colts	32.000	31.800		31.900		0.235		-0.200
Falcons	9.667	9.400		9.533		2.144		-0.267
Titans	13.500	13.200		13.350		2.475		-0.300
Bengals	14.000	13.600		13.800		2.632		-0.400
Panthers	24.083	23.600		23.842		1.893		-0.483
Redskins	27.250	26.600		26.925		1.862		-0.650
Chargers	20.083	19.400		19.742		2.220		-0.683
Giants	14.667	13.600		14.133		3.395		-1.067
Vikings	29.167	28.000		28.583		1.617		-1.167
Jaguars	29.250	28.000		28.625		0.832		-1.250
Steelers	4.667	3.400		4.033		1.226		-1.267
Bears	16.083	13.800		14.942		2.353		-2.283
Lions	12.667	10.200		11.433		2.287		-2.467
Browns	27.667	25.200		26.433		2.262		-2.467
Dolphins	19.917	16.800		18.358		2.590		-3.117
Texans	6.750	2.800		4.775		2.088		-3.950
Eagles	23.917	19.400		21.658		4.145		-4.517

Observations:

• This is always my favorite chart.
• It looks like the objective stats either don't account for the "Tebow factor", or they haven't caught up to how well the Broncos have been playing. My guess is it's the former.
• For once, the Chargers are a little under-ranked. They're playing better than is perceived.
• The opposite problem is true for the Dolphins, Texans and Eagles than what's happening with Denver: the Subjective rankers haven't caught on yet that these teams are playing decent football

Sources

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