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2011 NFL Power Rankings from Around the Web: Week 9

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Here you go, Richard.
Here you go, Richard.

That one stung, didn't it? No, that's not what she said, I'm talking about this week's loss to the Chiefs. Something is seriously off with this Chargers team, and no one seems to be able to put their finger on it. Was it the shortened off-season? Is it the new coaches? Did the players all work out incorrectly during the lockout? Who knows?

This was a certainly a week of shake-up. Plenty of surprise victories and losses — the Chargers notwithstanding in that group. On average, the Chargers dropped about 6 spots this week compared to last week. I can only imagine the immense cluster of dumbfounded pundits and fans alike should the Chargers pull off a victory against the Packers on Sunday.

Notable Quotes

Fox Sports

Philip Rivers doesn't look like the Rivers we are used to. After Monday night's OT loss to the Chiefs, he leads the NFL in interceptions thrown (11) and the Chargers are in a three-way tie for the divisional lead. Too bad for them, they face the Packers, while both the Raiders and Chiefs have favorable matchups in Week 9.

Sports Illustrated

If the Chargers thought the fourth-quarter meltdown at the Jets was painful, how to describe the late-game self-destruction in Kansas City Monday night? The Halloween cliches must have been flying fast and furiously in the press box. San Diego's lack of killer instinct is still readily apparent, and now here come back-to-back short-week games against the powerful Packers and the talented Raiders. The Chargers' season is officially on the brink.

Reddit

The AFC West Champions asserted their dominance tonight. To look at the numbers, you would think that San Diego was the better team, however that was not the case. Play calling has become predictable, too many injuries on key players, and a quarterback who frankly is a shadow of himself.

Subjective Average

  Subjective
  ESPN Fox CBS USA Today Sports Illustrated ProFootballTalk NFL.com SportingNews Pro Football Weekly National Football Post SB Nation Reddit   Average   Standard Deviation
Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1   1.000   0.000
Steelers 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 2.417   0.493
49ers 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 5 4 7 2 2 3.167   1.463
Patriots 5 4 7 4 5 4 5 4 3 6 4 4 4.583   1.038
Ravens 4 5 5 6 4 7 4 3 5 3 6 7 4.917   1.320
Lions 8 10 8 5 7 5 8 8 6 4 7 5 6.750   1.689
Bills 7 6 6 13 6 10 6 10 8 8 8 6 7.833   2.115
Giants 9 11 4 10 9 6 9 7 7 5 10 8 7.917   2.060
Saints 6 7 11 8 8 9 7 6 9 11 5 9 8.000   1.826
Texans 11 8 9 7 11 12 10 9 10 10 11 11 9.917   1.382
Bengals 14 16 12 15 10 8 11 13 11 9 9 10 11.500   2.432
Falcons 12 9 10 11 18 15 12 12 12 12 19 13 12.917   2.871
Bears 10 14 16 12 17 13 13 16 15 14 13 12 13.750   1.920
Jets 13 12 19 9 15 17 14 15 13 13 12 14 13.833   2.444
Chargers 15 13 14 19 16 18 16 11 14 18 16 17 15.583   2.216
Eagles 16 15 18 14 12 19 15 14 17 16 18 16 15.833   1.908
Buccaneers 19 17 17 16 19 14 19 17 16 17 14 15 16.667   1.700
Chiefs 18 19 13 17 13 16 17 19 20 15 15 19 16.750   2.278
Raiders 17 20 15 18 14 11 18 18 19 20 17 18 17.083   2.499
Cowboys 21 18 20 20 21 20 20 21 21 19 21 21 20.250   0.924
Titans 20 22 21 21 20 23 21 20 18 21 20 20 20.583   1.187
Vikings 23 23 25 22 22 21 22 22 24 24 25 25 23.167   1.344
Panthers 25 21 23 23 23 22 23 23 25 26 26 22 23.500   1.555
Redskins 22 24 22 24 24 24 25 26 23 25 22 24 23.750   1.233
Browns 24 25 24 26 25 25 26 25 22 22 23 23 24.167   1.344
Jaguars 26 27 26 30 26 28 24 24 26 23 24 26 25.833   1.863
Broncos 28 26 28 29 30 27 28 27 28 27 29 28 27.917   1.038
Seahawks 27 29 27 25 29 29 27 28 27 30 30 27 27.917   1.441
Rams 29 28 29 28 27 26 29 29 29 28 27 29 28.167   0.986
Cardinals 30 30 30 27 28 30 30 30 30 29 28 30 29.333   1.027
Dolphins 31 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 32 31 31.167   0.373
Colts 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 31 32 31.833   0.373

 

Observations:

  • Steelers knocked off the Patriots and are now the top team in the AFC.
  • Who expected the 49ers to be the next-best team after the Packers at any point this season? Not this guy.
  • The Chargers are perfectly average now
  • Miami and Indianapolis: terrible.

 

Subjective Standard Deviation

  Subjective
  ESPN Fox CBS USA Today Sports Illustrated ProFootballTalk NFL.com SportingNews Pro Football Weekly National Football Post SB Nation Reddit   Average   Standard Deviation
Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1   1.000   0.000
Dolphins 31 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 32 31 31.167   0.373
Colts 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 31 32 31.833   0.373
Steelers 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 2.417   0.493
Cowboys 21 18 20 20 21 20 20 21 21 19 21 21 20.250   0.924
Rams 29 28 29 28 27 26 29 29 29 28 27 29 28.167   0.986
Cardinals 30 30 30 27 28 30 30 30 30 29 28 30 29.333   1.027
Patriots 5 4 7 4 5 4 5 4 3 6 4 4 4.583   1.038
Broncos 28 26 28 29 30 27 28 27 28 27 29 28 27.917   1.038
Titans 20 22 21 21 20 23 21 20 18 21 20 20 20.583   1.187
Redskins 22 24 22 24 24 24 25 26 23 25 22 24 23.750   1.233
Ravens 4 5 5 6 4 7 4 3 5 3 6 7 4.917   1.320
Browns 24 25 24 26 25 25 26 25 22 22 23 23 24.167   1.344
Vikings 23 23 25 22 22 21 22 22 24 24 25 25 23.167   1.344
Texans 11 8 9 7 11 12 10 9 10 10 11 11 9.917   1.382
Seahawks 27 29 27 25 29 29 27 28 27 30 30 27 27.917   1.441
49ers 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 5 4 7 2 2 3.167   1.463
Panthers 25 21 23 23 23 22 23 23 25 26 26 22 23.500   1.555
Lions 8 10 8 5 7 5 8 8 6 4 7 5 6.750   1.689
Buccaneers 19 17 17 16 19 14 19 17 16 17 14 15 16.667   1.700
Saints 6 7 11 8 8 9 7 6 9 11 5 9 8.000   1.826
Jaguars 26 27 26 30 26 28 24 24 26 23 24 26 25.833   1.863
Eagles 16 15 18 14 12 19 15 14 17 16 18 16 15.833   1.908
Bears 10 14 16 12 17 13 13 16 15 14 13 12 13.750   1.920
Giants 9 11 4 10 9 6 9 7 7 5 10 8 7.917   2.060
Bills 7 6 6 13 6 10 6 10 8 8 8 6 7.833   2.115
Chargers 15 13 14 19 16 18 16 11 14 18 16 17 15.583   2.216
Chiefs 18 19 13 17 13 16 17 19 20 15 15 19 16.750   2.278
Bengals 14 16 12 15 10 8 11 13 11 9 9 10 11.500   2.432
Jets 13 12 19 9 15 17 14 15 13 13 12 14 13.833   2.444
Raiders 17 20 15 18 14 11 18 18 19 20 17 18 17.083   2.499
Falcons 12 9 10 11 18 15 12 12 12 12 19 13 12.917   2.871

 

Observations:

  • Let's throw out the 4 top teams in this list as they are the two teams at the bounds of the range.
  • There is significant agreement that the Cowboys are a bottom-third team.
  • Confidence in the Patriots is really beginning to falter.
  • Atlanta, and the three first-place teams in the AFC West are all over the map.

 

Objective Average

  Objective
  Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs   Average   Standard Deviation
Packers 1 2 1 1 3   1.600   0.800
49ers 3 12 2 2 1 4.000   4.050
Bills 4 8 7 4 5 5.600   1.625
Lions 13 10 4 3 2 6.400   4.317
Patriots 5 7 8 5 8 6.600   1.357
Bears 15 15 5 6 7 9.600   4.454
Ravens 6 11 14 10 10 10.200   2.561
Steelers 11 4 9 12 15 10.200   3.655
Bengals 12 22 6 9 4 10.600   6.312
Eagles 16 3 11 11 12 10.600   4.224
Saints 7 5 15 7 24 11.600   7.088
Jets 2 14 17 14 13 12.000   5.177
Texans 8 1 13 13 25 12.000   7.849
Falcons 14 24 3 8 11 12.000   7.014
Cowboys 9 6 18 15 14 12.400   4.317
Giants 10 9 20 20 6 13.000   5.865
Chargers 24 13 16 17 16 17.200   3.655
Buccaneers 19 32 12 16 9 17.600   7.965
Chiefs 23 23 10 18 17 18.200   4.792
Raiders 18 18 19 19 18 18.400   0.490
Titans 17 16 22 21 28 20.800   4.262
Redskins 21 17 25 23 19 21.000   2.828
Vikings 20 25 21 22 20 21.600   1.855
Panthers 22 20 28 24 26 24.000   2.828
Jaguars 28 21 24 25 27 25.000   2.450
Seahawks 27 29 23 26 21 25.200   2.857
Rams 32 19 29 30 23 26.600   4.842
Browns 25 28 26 28 29 27.200   1.470
Cardinals 30 27 30 29 22 27.600   3.007
Broncos 26 30 27 27 30 28.000   1.673
Dolphins 29 26 32 31 31 29.800   2.135
Colts 31 31 31 32 32 31.400   0.490

 

Observations:

  • Hmmm, Packers? Yep, they're good.
  • Colts? Yep, they're terrible.
  • Chargers are average again.
  • Chiefs and Raiders are still below them … for now.

 

Objective Standard Deviation

  Objective
  Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs   Average   Standard Deviation
Colts 31 31 31 32 32   31.400   0.490
Raiders 18 18 19 19 18 18.400   0.490
Packers 1 2 1 1 3 1.600   0.800
Patriots 5 7 8 5 8 6.600   1.357
Browns 25 28 26 28 29 27.200   1.470
Bills 4 8 7 4 5 5.600   1.625
Broncos 26 30 27 27 30 28.000   1.673
Vikings 20 25 21 22 20 21.600   1.855
Dolphins 29 26 32 31 31 29.800   2.135
Jaguars 28 21 24 25 27 25.000   2.450
Ravens 6 11 14 10 10 10.200   2.561
Redskins 21 17 25 23 19 21.000   2.828
Panthers 22 20 28 24 26 24.000   2.828
Seahawks 27 29 23 26 21 25.200   2.857
Cardinals 30 27 30 29 22 27.600   3.007
Steelers 11 4 9 12 15 10.200   3.655
Chargers 24 13 16 17 16 17.200   3.655
49ers 3 12 2 2 1 4.000   4.050
Eagles 16 3 11 11 12 10.600   4.224
Titans 17 16 22 21 28 20.800   4.262
Cowboys 9 6 18 15 14 12.400   4.317
Lions 13 10 4 3 2 6.400   4.317
Bears 15 15 5 6 7 9.600   4.454
Chiefs 23 23 10 18 17 18.200   4.792
Rams 32 19 29 30 23 26.600   4.842
Jets 2 14 17 14 13 12.000   5.177
Giants 10 9 20 20 6 13.000   5.865
Bengals 12 22 6 9 4 10.600   6.312
Falcons 14 24 3 8 11 12.000   7.014
Saints 7 5 15 7 24 11.600   7.088
Texans 8 1 13 13 25 12.000   7.849
Buccaneers 19 32 12 16 9 17.600   7.965

 

Observations:

  • Wow. Objectively speaking, the Raiders are very consistently ranked across the board. Just means they may not be as good as some hype suggests.
  • Houston and Tampa Bay are all over the board. I realize different sites measure different metrics, but the Texans have a 24-position swing. Tampa Bay has a 23-position swing.
  • Even when it comes to the Standard Deviation scale, the Chargers are decidedly average.

 

Overall Average

  Subj vs Obj
  Subjective Average Objevtive Average   Average   Standard Deviation   Standard Deviation
Packers 1.000 1.600   1.300   0.513   0.600
49ers 3.167 4.000 3.583   2.545   0.833
Patriots 4.583 6.600 5.592   1.465   2.017
Steelers 2.417 10.200 6.308   4.084   7.783
Lions 6.750 6.400 6.575   2.743   -0.350
Bills 7.833 5.600 6.717   2.229   -2.233
Ravens 4.917 10.200 7.558   2.993   5.283
Saints 8.000 11.600 9.800   4.452   3.600
Giants 7.917 13.000 10.458   4.299   5.083
Texans 9.917 12.000 10.958   4.513   2.083
Bengals 11.500 10.600 11.050   4.008   -0.900
Bears 13.750 9.600 11.675   3.466   -4.150
Falcons 12.917 12.000 12.458   4.524   -0.917
Jets 13.833 12.000 12.917   3.577   -1.833
Eagles 15.833 10.600 13.217   3.675   -5.233
Cowboys 20.250 12.400 16.325   4.345   -7.850
Chargers 15.583 17.200 16.392   2.817   1.617
Buccaneers 16.667 17.600 17.133   4.569   0.933
Chiefs 16.750 18.200 17.475   3.294   1.450
Raiders 17.083 18.400 17.742   2.199   1.317
Titans 20.583 20.800 20.692   2.519   0.217
Redskins 23.750 21.000 22.375   2.235   -2.750
Vikings 23.167 21.600 22.383   1.672   -1.567
Panthers 23.500 24.000 23.750   2.028   0.500
Jaguars 25.833 25.000 25.417   2.088   -0.833
Browns 24.167 27.200 25.683   1.955   3.033
Seahawks 27.917 25.200 26.558   2.323   -2.717
Rams 28.167 26.600 27.383   2.844   -1.567
Broncos 27.917 28.000 27.958   1.259   0.083
Cardinals 29.333 27.600 28.467   2.007   -1.733
Dolphins 31.167 29.800 30.483   1.352   -1.367
Colts 31.833 31.400 31.617   0.456   -0.433

 

Observations:

  • Packers: yep. Colts: yep.
  • If not for the Buccaneers, the three first-place AFC West teams would have made the perfect trifecta of mediocraty.

 

Overall Standard Deviation

  Subj vs Obj
  Subjective Average Objevtive Average   Average   Standard Deviation   Standard Deviation
Colts 31.833 31.400   31.617   0.456   -0.433
Packers 1.000 1.600 1.300   0.513   0.600
Broncos 27.917 28.000 27.958   1.259   0.083
Dolphins 31.167 29.800 30.483   1.352   -1.367
Patriots 4.583 6.600 5.592   1.465   2.017
Vikings 23.167 21.600 22.383   1.672   -1.567
Browns 24.167 27.200 25.683   1.955   3.033
Cardinals 29.333 27.600 28.467   2.007   -1.733
Panthers 23.500 24.000 23.750   2.028   0.500
Jaguars 25.833 25.000 25.417   2.088   -0.833
Raiders 17.083 18.400 17.742   2.199   1.317
Bills 7.833 5.600 6.717   2.229   -2.233
Redskins 23.750 21.000 22.375   2.235   -2.750
Seahawks 27.917 25.200 26.558   2.323   -2.717
Titans 20.583 20.800 20.692   2.519   0.217
49ers 3.167 4.000 3.583   2.545   0.833
Lions 6.750 6.400 6.575   2.743   -0.350
Chargers 15.583 17.200 16.392   2.817   1.617
Rams 28.167 26.600 27.383   2.844   -1.567
Ravens 4.917 10.200 7.558   2.993   5.283
Chiefs 16.750 18.200 17.475   3.294   1.450
Bears 13.750 9.600 11.675   3.466   -4.150
Jets 13.833 12.000 12.917   3.577   -1.833
Eagles 15.833 10.600 13.217   3.675   -5.233
Bengals 11.500 10.600 11.050   4.008   -0.900
Steelers 2.417 10.200 6.308   4.084   7.783
Giants 7.917 13.000 10.458   4.299   5.083
Cowboys 20.250 12.400 16.325   4.345   -7.850
Saints 8.000 11.600 9.800   4.452   3.600
Texans 9.917 12.000 10.958   4.513   2.083
Falcons 12.917 12.000 12.458   4.524   -0.917
Buccaneers 16.667 17.600 17.133   4.569   0.933

 

Observations:

  • Denver pops up at the top of the list for once, but just because they're consistely terrible. Tebow be damned.
  • Chargers still middle-of-the-pack on everything.
  • What's most interesting about Tampa Bay here is they're the most inconsistently-ranked team, but the averages are very close to each other.

 

Difference in Averages

  Subj vs Obj
  Subjective Average Objevtive Average   Average   Standard Deviation   Standard Deviation
Steelers 2.417 10.200   6.308   4.084   7.783
Ravens 4.917 10.200 7.558   2.993   5.283
Giants 7.917 13.000 10.458   4.299   5.083
Saints 8.000 11.600 9.800   4.452   3.600
Browns 24.167 27.200 25.683   1.955   3.033
Texans 9.917 12.000 10.958   4.513   2.083
Patriots 4.583 6.600 5.592   1.465   2.017
Chargers 15.583 17.200 16.392   2.817   1.617
Chiefs 16.750 18.200 17.475   3.294   1.450
Raiders 17.083 18.400 17.742   2.199   1.317
Buccaneers 16.667 17.600 17.133   4.569   0.933
49ers 3.167 4.000 3.583   2.545   0.833
Packers 1.000 1.600 1.300   0.513   0.600
Panthers 23.500 24.000 23.750   2.028   0.500
Titans 20.583 20.800 20.692   2.519   0.217
Broncos 27.917 28.000 27.958   1.259   0.083
Lions 6.750 6.400 6.575   2.743   -0.350
Colts 31.833 31.400 31.617   0.456   -0.433
Jaguars 25.833 25.000 25.417   2.088   -0.833
Bengals 11.500 10.600 11.050   4.008   -0.900
Falcons 12.917 12.000 12.458   4.524   -0.917
Dolphins 31.167 29.800 30.483   1.352   -1.367
Rams 28.167 26.600 27.383   2.844   -1.567
Vikings 23.167 21.600 22.383   1.672   -1.567
Cardinals 29.333 27.600 28.467   2.007   -1.733
Jets 13.833 12.000 12.917   3.577   -1.833
Bills 7.833 5.600 6.717   2.229   -2.233
Seahawks 27.917 25.200 26.558   2.323   -2.717
Redskins 23.750 21.000 22.375   2.235   -2.750
Bears 13.750 9.600 11.675   3.466   -4.150
Eagles 15.833 10.600 13.217   3.675   -5.233
Cowboys 20.250 12.400 16.325   4.345   -7.850

 

Observations:

  • Woot! The Chargers two averages now are more in line with each other. Only problem is, they've fallen enough that their subjective ranking now matches the objective ranking. We were kind of hoping for the opposite there ...
  • So the Steelers knock off the Patriots and everyone jumps on their bandwagon. It may be premature, or it just may be that the objective stats haven't caught up to the Steelers yet.
  • There is still hope being held out for the Ravens, Giants and Browns.
  • People are so quick to dismiss the Cowboys. Apparently looks can be deceiving here, same story with the Eagles and Bears.

 

Sources