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2011 NFL Power Rankings from Around the Web: Week 14

By John Crean

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Neat.
Neat.

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

Division Avg Ranking
AFC North 12.0441
AFC East 14.1618
NFC North 14.3529
NFC South 15.7353
AFC West 17.3235
NFC East 18.9118
NFC West 19.5147
AFC South 19.9559

Surprises

Team Week 1 Average Week 14 Average Difference
SF 25.667 4.083 21.584
DEN 29.000 10.083 18.917
CIN 30.778 14.000 16.778
TEN 23.556 13.500 10.056
OAK 20.889 13.417 7.472

Disappointments

Team Week 1 Average Week 14 Average Difference
IND 11.778 32.000 -20.222
PHI 6.222 23.917 -17.695
STL 17.667 31.000 -13.333
SDG 7.000 20.083 -13.083
TB 12.333 24.917 -12.584

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

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