2011 NFL Power Rankings From Around the Web: Week 3

So, the Chargers lost the Patriots. Big whoop. Yes, it's a bit frustrating knowing they could have won had they not made so many mistakes, but such is football. The Chargers did drop a little in the rankings, but not drastically (for the most part). Many people are willing to give San Diego a little leeway in losing to the NFL's top team.

San Diego vs Kansas City represents the most lopsided game this week. But, don't let that fool you, some of us here don't think it'll be so easy for Norv and the boys.

Notable Quotes

Fox

There is no shame in a West Coast team going into New England and losing. Need to run the ball better and more often, and when they do, Mike Tolbert needs to run downhill, not dance around in the hole like he did on Sunday.

ProFootballTalk

With the Chiefs coming to town, the slow-starting Chargers seem poised to finish the month at 2-1.

SBNation

The Chargers always start slow but they have a huge opportunity to make an early dent in the division, starting with the lowly Chiefs next week.

Subjective Average

	Subjective
Packers	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.091		0.288
Patriots	2	2	2	1	2	3	3	2	2	2	2		2.091		0.514
Jets	3	4	3	3	3	4	5	3	3	4	3		3.455		0.656
Saints	4	3	11	4	4	2	6	4	6	7	4		5.000		2.336
Ravens	7	10	7	5	5	9	2	6	7	6	5		6.273		2.049
Eagles	6	8	9	7	6	13	4	8	4	3	9		7.000		2.730
Texans	5	9	4	6	9	8	8	9	5	11	7		7.364		2.057
Steelers	9	6	10	11	7	10	10	5	10	8	6		8.364		1.967
Falcons	8	7	8	10	11	6	12	7	14	5	8		8.727		2.597
Chargers	12	5	6	8	12	5	7	10	8	9	16		8.909		3.232
Lions	11	11	5	12	8	7	11	11	9	10	10		9.546		2.017
Bears	10	12	15	9	10	12	9	13	13	13	12		11.636		1.823
Cowboys	13	14	12	14	16	14	14	17	12	14	14		14.000		1.414
Bills	16	16	14	15	13	11	17	15	15	12	11		14.091		1.975
Redskins	15	15	13	17	14	16	13	12	11	17	13		14.182		1.898
Buccaneers	14	13	18	13	17	15	15	14	16	15	15		15.000		1.477
Giants	18	17	16	18	15	17	19	18	17	16	17		17.091		1.083
Raiders	20	20	19	16	18	20	16	16	18	18	23		18.546		2.061
Cardinals	19	18	17	23	19	18	18	19	20	22	21		19.455		1.777
Titans	17	19	22	19	22	22	25	21	21	20	19		20.636		2.057
49ers	23	21	23	22	23	21	23	20	19	23	20		21.636		1.432
Rams	22	27	25	20	20	26	21	27	24	19	22		23.000		2.796
Jaguars	21	31	20	21	21	23	20	26	27	29	18		23.364		4.029
Browns	29	22	21	24	26	27	29	23	22	24	24		24.636		2.638
Bengals	28	23	26	29	25	25	24	22	25	21	25		24.818		2.249
Panthers	27	24	28	25	27	19	28	24	26	28	27		25.727		2.562
Broncos	24	25	24	28	24	24	31	28	23	25	28		25.818		2.405
Dolphins	25	26	27	27	29	31	22	25	28	30	26		26.909		2.429
Vikings	26	28	30	26	28	28	26	29	29	26	30		27.818		1.527
Colts	30	29	29	30	30	30	30	30	30	27	31		29.636		0.979
Seahawks	32	30	31	31	31	29	32	32	31	31	29		30.818		1.029
Chiefs	31	32	32	32	32	32	27	31	32	32	32		31.364		1.432

 

Observations:

• Well, the Chargers didn't fall too much. I guess losing to the Patriots isn't a huge deal. That is, unless you're Joel Thorman doing the rankings for SBNation.
• Wow. When was the last time we saw the Lions in the top 10?
• Packers no longer the unanimous number-1 team.
• The Chiefs are toast.
• So far, all that optimism up in Seattle has been mostly unfounded.

 

Subjective Standard Deviation

	Subjective
Packers	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.091		0.288
Patriots	2	2	2	1	2	3	3	2	2	2	2		2.091		0.514
Jets	3	4	3	3	3	4	5	3	3	4	3		3.455		0.656
Colts	30	29	29	30	30	30	30	30	30	27	31		29.636		0.979
Seahawks	32	30	31	31	31	29	32	32	31	31	29		30.818		1.029
Giants	18	17	16	18	15	17	19	18	17	16	17		17.091		1.083
Cowboys	13	14	12	14	16	14	14	17	12	14	14		14.000		1.414
Chiefs	31	32	32	32	32	32	27	31	32	32	32		31.364		1.432
49ers	23	21	23	22	23	21	23	20	19	23	20		21.636		1.432
Buccaneers	14	13	18	13	17	15	15	14	16	15	15		15.000		1.477
Vikings	26	28	30	26	28	28	26	29	29	26	30		27.818		1.527
Cardinals	19	18	17	23	19	18	18	19	20	22	21		19.455		1.777
Bears	10	12	15	9	10	12	9	13	13	13	12		11.636		1.823
Redskins	15	15	13	17	14	16	13	12	11	17	13		14.182		1.898
Steelers	9	6	10	11	7	10	10	5	10	8	6		8.364		1.967
Bills	16	16	14	15	13	11	17	15	15	12	11		14.091		1.975
Lions	11	11	5	12	8	7	11	11	9	10	10		9.546		2.017
Ravens	7	10	7	5	5	9	2	6	7	6	5		6.273		2.049
Texans	5	9	4	6	9	8	8	9	5	11	7		7.364		2.057
Titans	17	19	22	19	22	22	25	21	21	20	19		20.636		2.057
Raiders	20	20	19	16	18	20	16	16	18	18	23		18.546		2.061
Bengals	28	23	26	29	25	25	24	22	25	21	25		24.818		2.249
Saints	4	3	11	4	4	2	6	4	6	7	4		5.000		2.336
Broncos	24	25	24	28	24	24	31	28	23	25	28		25.818		2.405
Dolphins	25	26	27	27	29	31	22	25	28	30	26		26.909		2.429
Panthers	27	24	28	25	27	19	28	24	26	28	27		25.727		2.562
Falcons	8	7	8	10	11	6	12	7	14	5	8		8.727		2.597
Browns	29	22	21	24	26	27	29	23	22	24	24		24.636		2.638
Eagles	6	8	9	7	6	13	4	8	4	3	9		7.000		2.730
Rams	22	27	25	20	20	26	21	27	24	19	22		23.000		2.796
Chargers	12	5	6	8	12	5	7	10	8	9	16		8.909		3.232
Jaguars	21	31	20	21	21	23	20	26	27	29	18		23.364		4.029

 

Observations:

• As always, the teams at the extreme end of the "Average" scale are also the most-consistently ranked. The top 3 teams, and the bottom 2 teams have the most consistent rankings across the board.
• The Chargers now are the second-most inconsistently-ranked team right now. There is an 11-position swing between their highest and lowest rankings.
• Is Jacksonville terrible? Or merely mediocre? NO ONE KNOWS!

 

Objective Average

	Subjective
Patriots	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
Jets	2	4	2		2.667		0.943
Packers	5	2	3		3.333		1.247
Steelers	3	8	6		5.667		2.055
Saints	8	5	4		5.667		1.700
Ravens	6	9	5		6.667		1.700
Lions	9	3	15		9.000		4.899
Bears	16	7	8		10.333		4.028
Eagles	4	16	11		10.333		4.922
Texans	7	12	12		10.333		2.357
Bills	13	6	14		11.000		3.559
Chargers	10	14	9		11.000		2.160
Falcons	11	13	13		12.333		0.943
Cowboys	22	10	7		13.000		6.481
Giants	12	20	16		16.000		3.266
Titans	21	18	10		16.333		4.643
Redskins	20	17	17		18.000		1.414
Buccaneers	24	11	21		18.667		5.558
Bengals	19	21	19		19.667		0.943
Jaguars	23	19	18		20.000		2.160
Raiders	25	15	20		20.000		4.083
Vikings	14	25	23		20.667		4.784
49ers	15	23	27		21.667		4.989
Dolphins	17	26	24		22.333		3.859
Browns	18	22	29		23.000		4.546
Broncos	27	24	26		25.667		1.247
Cardinals	26	27	25		26.000		0.817
Colts	28	29	22		26.333		3.091
Panthers	29	31	28		29.333		1.247
Chiefs	31	28	30		29.667		1.247
Seahawks	32	30	31		31.000		0.817
Rams	30	32	32		31.333		0.943

 

Observations:

• The Chargers just lost to the unanimously-top-ranked team, objectively speaking. It's not really time to panic ... yet.
• I wouldn't get too excited about Cam Newton and Carolina just yet.
• A lot of people were excited about St. Louis this year and thinking they'd be a good team. Guess they were wrong.

 

Objective Standard Deviation

	Subjective
Patriots	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
Cardinals	26	27	25		26.000		0.817
Seahawks	32	30	31		31.000		0.817
Bengals	19	21	19		19.667		0.943
Jets	2	4	2		2.667		0.943
Falcons	11	13	13		12.333		0.943
Rams	30	32	32		31.333		0.943
Packers	5	2	3		3.333		1.247
Broncos	27	24	26		25.667		1.247
Chiefs	31	28	30		29.667		1.247
Panthers	29	31	28		29.333		1.247
Redskins	20	17	17		18.000		1.414
Ravens	6	9	5		6.667		1.700
Saints	8	5	4		5.667		1.700
Steelers	3	8	6		5.667		2.055
Jaguars	23	19	18		20.000		2.160
Chargers	10	14	9		11.000		2.160
Texans	7	12	12		10.333		2.357
Colts	28	29	22		26.333		3.091
Giants	12	20	16		16.000		3.266
Bills	13	6	14		11.000		3.559
Dolphins	17	26	24		22.333		3.859
Bears	16	7	8		10.333		4.028
Raiders	25	15	20		20.000		4.083
Browns	18	22	29		23.000		4.546
Titans	21	18	10		16.333		4.643
Vikings	14	25	23		20.667		4.784
Lions	9	3	15		9.000		4.899
Eagles	4	16	11		10.333		4.922
49ers	15	23	27		21.667		4.989
Buccaneers	24	11	21		18.667		5.558
Cowboys	22	10	7		13.000		6.481

 

Observations:

• Wow, the Bengals really aren't as bad as people give them credit for.
• Dream Team? Don't think so.

 

Overall Average

	Subj vs Obj
Patriots	2.091	1.000		1.545		0.639		-1.091
Packers	1.091	3.333		2.212		1.116		2.242
Jets	3.455	2.667		3.061		0.795		-0.788
Saints	5.000	5.667		5.333		2.232		0.667
Ravens	6.273	6.667		6.470		1.986		0.394
Steelers	8.364	5.667		7.015		2.273		-2.697
Eagles	7.000	10.333		8.667		3.594		3.333
Texans	7.364	10.333		8.848		2.450		2.970
Lions	9.546	9.000		9.273		2.896		-0.546
Chargers	8.909	11.000		9.955		3.153		2.091
Falcons	8.727	12.333		10.530		2.771		3.606
Bears	11.636	10.333		10.985		2.524		-1.303
Bills	14.091	11.000		12.545		2.718		-3.091
Cowboys	14.000	13.000		13.500		3.277		-1.000
Redskins	14.182	18.000		16.091		2.391		3.818
Giants	17.091	16.000		16.545		1.846		-1.091
Buccaneers	15.000	18.667		16.833		3.255		3.667
Titans	20.636	16.333		18.485		3.326		-4.303
Raiders	18.546	20.000		19.273		2.695		1.455
49ers	21.636	21.667		21.652		2.635		0.030
Jaguars	23.364	20.000		21.682		3.957		-3.364
Bengals	24.818	19.667		22.242		2.938		-5.152
Cardinals	19.455	26.000		22.727		3.136		6.546
Browns	24.636	23.000		23.818		3.217		-1.636
Vikings	27.818	20.667		24.242		3.918		-7.152
Dolphins	26.909	22.333		24.621		3.369		-4.576
Broncos	25.818	25.667		25.742		2.210		-0.152
Rams	23.000	31.333		27.167		4.246		8.333
Panthers	25.727	29.333		27.530		2.771		3.606
Colts	29.636	26.333		27.985		2.154		-3.303
Chiefs	31.364	29.667		30.515		1.558		-1.697
Seahawks	30.818	31.000		30.909		0.990		0.182

 

Observations:

• Thanks to the Objective rankings, the Patriots are now the top team in the NFL.
• Chargers are still considered a top-10 team.
• Fear the Jets.

 

Overall Standard Deviation

	Subj vs Obj
Patriots	2.091	1.000		1.545		0.639		-1.091
Jets	3.455	2.667		3.061		0.795		-0.788
Seahawks	30.818	31.000		30.909		0.990		0.182
Packers	1.091	3.333		2.212		1.116		2.242
Chiefs	31.364	29.667		30.515		1.558		-1.697
Giants	17.091	16.000		16.545		1.846		-1.091
Ravens	6.273	6.667		6.470		1.986		0.394
Colts	29.636	26.333		27.985		2.154		-3.303
Broncos	25.818	25.667		25.742		2.210		-0.152
Saints	5.000	5.667		5.333		2.232		0.667
Steelers	8.364	5.667		7.015		2.273		-2.697
Redskins	14.182	18.000		16.091		2.391		3.818
Texans	7.364	10.333		8.848		2.450		2.970
Bears	11.636	10.333		10.985		2.524		-1.303
49ers	21.636	21.667		21.652		2.635		0.030
Raiders	18.546	20.000		19.273		2.695		1.455
Bills	14.091	11.000		12.545		2.718		-3.091
Falcons	8.727	12.333		10.530		2.771		3.606
Panthers	25.727	29.333		27.530		2.771		3.606
Lions	9.546	9.000		9.273		2.896		-0.546
Bengals	24.818	19.667		22.242		2.938		-5.152
Cardinals	19.455	26.000		22.727		3.136		6.546
Chargers	8.909	11.000		9.955		3.153		2.091
Browns	24.636	23.000		23.818		3.217		-1.636
Buccaneers	15.000	18.667		16.833		3.255		3.667
Cowboys	14.000	13.000		13.500		3.277		-1.000
Titans	20.636	16.333		18.485		3.326		-4.303
Dolphins	26.909	22.333		24.621		3.369		-4.576
Eagles	7.000	10.333		8.667		3.594		3.333
Vikings	27.818	20.667		24.242		3.918		-7.152
Jaguars	23.364	20.000		21.682		3.957		-3.364
Rams	23.000	31.333		27.167		4.246		8.333

 

Observations:

• The Chargers now are a little more consistent in their placements.
• Huh, look at that: the Giants are consistently mediocre!

 

Difference in Averages

	Subj vs Obj
Rams	23.000	31.333		27.167		4.246		8.333
Cardinals	19.455	26.000		22.727		3.136		6.546
Redskins	14.182	18.000		16.091		2.391		3.818
Buccaneers	15.000	18.667		16.833		3.255		3.667
Falcons	8.727	12.333		10.530		2.771		3.606
Panthers	25.727	29.333		27.530		2.771		3.606
Eagles	7.000	10.333		8.667		3.594		3.333
Texans	7.364	10.333		8.848		2.450		2.970
Packers	1.091	3.333		2.212		1.116		2.242
Chargers	8.909	11.000		9.955		3.153		2.091
Raiders	18.546	20.000		19.273		2.695		1.455
Saints	5.000	5.667		5.333		2.232		0.667
Ravens	6.273	6.667		6.470		1.986		0.394
Seahawks	30.818	31.000		30.909		0.990		0.182
49ers	21.636	21.667		21.652		2.635		0.030
Broncos	25.818	25.667		25.742		2.210		-0.152
Lions	9.546	9.000		9.273		2.896		-0.546
Jets	3.455	2.667		3.061		0.795		-0.788
Cowboys	14.000	13.000		13.500		3.277		-1.000
Patriots	2.091	1.000		1.545		0.639		-1.091
Giants	17.091	16.000		16.545		1.846		-1.091
Bears	11.636	10.333		10.985		2.524		-1.303
Browns	24.636	23.000		23.818		3.217		-1.636
Chiefs	31.364	29.667		30.515		1.558		-1.697
Steelers	8.364	5.667		7.015		2.273		-2.697
Bills	14.091	11.000		12.545		2.718		-3.091
Colts	29.636	26.333		27.985		2.154		-3.303
Jaguars	23.364	20.000		21.682		3.957		-3.364
Titans	20.636	16.333		18.485		3.326		-4.303
Dolphins	26.909	22.333		24.621		3.369		-4.576
Bengals	24.818	19.667		22.242		2.938		-5.152
Vikings	27.818	20.667		24.242		3.918		-7.152

 

Observations:

• The Rams and Cardinals are still ranked far too high. Watch out for them to fall.
• The Chargers are slightly overranked. About 2 positions higher subjectively than their objective ratings.
• Minnesota is playing better than people realize. Same with the Bengals, Dolphins and Titans.

 

Sources

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