2012 NFL Power Rankings Consensus: Week 7

So I have good news and bad news with regards to the Chargers and their Power Rankings this week. First the good news: the Chargers didn't fall nearly as much as I expected and they don't even make an appearance in this week's Stock Falling list. The bad news: the Chargers now make an appearance in the "Overrated Teams" list. Where do they rank on that list? You'll have to read on to find out.

This week, it's becoming obvious that the Subjective Rankers are relying too much on record than anything else when evaluating a team's ranking. The Atlanta falcons are your consensus number-1 team, using the subjective rankings as a guide. However, six of the eight Objective rankers have the Chicago Bears as the number 1 team. 75% of the various stats-based rankings agree that the Chicago Bears are the best team in the NFL right now, wheras the Subjective rankers find them to be about the 5th-best team. Flying under the radar a little bit.

Division Averages

Division	Avg Ranking
NFC North	10.1447
NFC West	11.4079
NFC East	12.7500
AFC East	17.2763
AFC North	17.5395
NFC South	18.6184
AFC South	22.0526
AFC West	22.2105

Stock Rising

Team	Week 6 Average	Week 7 Average	Difference
SEA	15.546	8.364	7.182
GB	11.727	7.000	4.727
WAS	19.818	15.364	4.454
DEN	15.000	10.636	4.364
NYG	7.364	3.091	4.273

Stock Falling

Team	Week 6 Average	Week 7 Average	Difference
IND	20.818	25.546	-4.728
STL	15.909	20.182	-4.273
ARI	9.546	13.818	-4.272
PIT	9.818	13.909	-4.091
CIN	14.909	18.727	-3.818

Subjective Average

	Subjective
Falcons	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		1.091
Giants	3	5	5	2	3	3	2	2	4	3	2		3.091		4.273
Ravens	4	2	2	6	2	2	3	6	2	4	3		3.273		1.000
Texans	2	3	4	4	4	5	4	3	3	2	4		3.455		-2.455
Bears	6	4	3	7	6	4	5	4	5	6	6		5.091		0.818
49ers	5	7	6	5	5	6	6	5	6	5	5		5.546		-2.637
Packers	8	6	9	3	7	9	7	7	7	7	7		7.000		4.727
Patriots	7	9	8	8	9	8	8	9	9	8	8		8.273		-3.273
Seahawks	9	8	7	10	8	7	9	8	8	9	9		8.364		7.182
Broncos	12	13	10	9	11	10	10	11	11	10	10		10.636		4.364
Vikings	10	12	11	15	10	11	11	10	10	12	11		11.182		-2.546
Eagles	13	15	14	12	13	14	12	14	12	16	12		13.364		-2.182
Cardinals	11	16	12	21	12	12	13	15	15	11	14		13.818		-4.272
Steelers	14	14	13	13	15	13	14	13	16	13	15		13.909		-4.091
Redskins	15	11	20	18	16	16	16	17	13	14	13		15.364		4.454
Chargers	16	20	17	11	19	19	15	12	14	15	16		15.818		-1.818
Dolphins	17	21	15	26	14	20	20	16	19	20	17		18.636		2.819
Bengals	21	19	18	16	21	18	18	20	17	18	20		18.727		-3.818
Cowboys	18	10	19	17	23	25	17	22	22	17	19		19.000		-2.364
Lions	19	17	22	14	22	21	22	19	21	19	18		19.455		2.363
Jets	23	18	23	22	17	17	19	18	18	22	21		19.818		3.909
Rams	20	23	16	20	18	15	21	21	25	21	22		20.182		-4.273
Bills	25	25	21	24	20	27	23	24	20	24	24		23.364		2.545
Buccaneers	22	24	24	25	25	24	25	23	23	23	25		23.909		-0.091
Saints	24	22	25	19	26	23	24	25	27	26	23		24.000		-0.636
Colts	26	26	26	27	24	22	26	26	24	28	26		25.546		-4.728
Titans	27	28	27	23	27	26	27	27	26	27	27		26.546		3.090
Panthers	28	27	31	28	29	28	28	28	28	25	28		28.000		-1.182
Raiders	29	30	29	29	30	29	29	29	31	29	29		29.364		-0.818
Browns	30	29	28	30	28	30	30	30	30	30	30		29.546		2.090
Jaguars	31	32	32	32	31	31	31	32	29	32	32		31.364		-0.364
Chiefs	32	31	30	31	32	32	32	31	32	31	31		31.364		-3.182

Observations:

• Last week, Houston was the consensus number-1 team. With the Texans losing their first game this week and the Falcons remaining undefeated, it was pretty much a guarantee that the Falcons would supplant the Texans atop the leaderboard.
• Interesting that the Patriots are still ranked above the Seahawks. Some rankers have them swapped, but on average, the Patriots are still ranked higher (albeit barely).
• The Chargers only dropped about 1.8 spots on average this week in the subjective rankings. Was that enough? Probably not. I mean, did you see that game?
• Denver climbed more in the rankings than San Diego fell
• What little hope there still was in Kansas City has been dashed.
• The Browns finally won a game! That means they're no longer in the cellar!

Subjective Standard Deviation

	Subjective
Falcons	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		0.000		-0.288
Patriots	7	9	8	8	9	8	8	9	9	8	8		0.617		0.191
Raiders	29	30	29	29	30	29	29	29	31	29	29		0.643		-0.433
Chiefs	32	31	30	31	32	32	32	31	32	31	31		0.643		-1.053
49ers	5	7	6	5	5	6	6	5	6	5	5		0.656		0.368
Browns	30	29	28	30	28	30	30	30	30	30	30		0.782		0.139
Jaguars	31	32	32	32	31	31	31	32	29	32	32		0.881		0.142
Seahawks	9	8	7	10	8	7	9	8	8	9	9		0.881		-0.107
Texans	2	3	4	4	4	5	4	3	3	2	4		0.891		0.891
Steelers	14	14	13	13	15	13	14	13	16	13	15		0.996		-0.117
Buccaneers	22	24	24	25	25	24	25	23	23	23	25		0.996		-0.589
Broncos	12	13	10	9	11	10	10	11	11	10	10		1.068		-1.526
Giants	3	5	5	2	3	3	2	2	4	3	2		1.083		-0.284
Bears	6	4	3	7	6	4	5	4	5	6	6		1.164		0.371
Titans	27	28	27	23	27	26	27	27	26	27	27		1.233		0.007
Eagles	13	15	14	12	13	14	12	14	12	16	12		1.298		0.106
Panthers	28	27	31	28	29	28	28	28	28	25	28		1.348		0.156
Vikings	10	12	11	15	10	11	11	10	10	12	11		1.403		-0.091
Ravens	4	2	2	6	2	2	3	6	2	4	3		1.483		0.866
Packers	8	6	9	3	7	9	7	7	7	7	7		1.537		-0.326
Bengals	21	19	18	16	21	18	18	20	17	18	20		1.543		-0.338
Colts	26	26	26	27	24	22	26	26	24	28	26		1.559		-0.649
Bills	25	25	21	24	20	27	23	24	20	24	24		2.101		-0.008
Saints	24	22	25	19	26	23	24	25	27	26	23		2.132		-0.054
Jets	23	18	23	22	17	17	19	18	18	22	21		2.289		0.579
Lions	19	17	22	14	22	21	22	19	21	19	18		2.388		0.692
Redskins	15	11	20	18	16	16	16	17	13	14	13		2.422		1.486
Chargers	16	20	17	11	19	19	15	12	14	15	16		2.724		1.129
Rams	20	23	16	20	18	15	21	21	25	21	22		2.790		-0.147
Cardinals	11	16	12	21	12	12	13	15	15	11	14		2.790		1.119
Dolphins	17	21	15	26	14	20	20	16	19	20	17		3.199		1.051
Cowboys	18	10	19	17	23	25	17	22	22	17	19		3.861		2.038

Observations:

• It happened to the 49ers, then the Texans, are the Falcons the next to be knocked out of the top spot?
• Chargers rankings are all over the board here. Just how bad was Monday's loss? No one truly knows.
• Brian Billick has the Cowboys at number 10. Someone send an ambulance to his house, stat! He needs to be checked out.
• Dolphins are difficult for people to figure out. Are they good? Are they bad? Do we not care about them and just stick them in some open spot?

Objective Average

	Objective
Bears	3	4	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.625		1.500
49ers	5	2	6	2	6	4	3	8		4.500		-1.625
Giants	2	5	3	3	14	5	2	2		4.500		7.750
Texans	9	3	4	4	10	2	6	4		5.250		-2.875
Packers	1	7	7	7	9	10	5	5		6.375		6.500
Falcons	7	10	2	8	8	6	9	3		6.625		-2.250
Patriots	4	18	8	5	12	3	4	15		8.625		-2.625
Seahawks	8	12	5	10	4	14	7	10		8.750		3.375
Ravens	10	17	9	6	7	8	10	7		9.250		-0.875
Broncos	6	1	13	9	19	17	8	6		9.875		1.500
Vikings	11	16	11	11	5	12	16	9		11.375		-4.000
Rams	22	11	10	24	3	19	11	13		14.125		0.500
Redskins	13	15	17	17	18	11	15	11		14.625		5.500
Dolphins	12	8	14	22	13	13	17	18		14.625		-2.250
Cowboys	18	9	15	15	11	22	12	19		15.125		1.625
Cardinals	23	25	12	16	2	15	14	14		15.125		-3.875
Buccaneers	14	22	24	19	25	7	13	12		17.000		7.000
Eagles	21	13	20	14	15	18	19	16		17.000		-3.000
Lions	17	14	19	21	27	9	18	21		18.250		-1.000
Jets	15	23	18	20	17	23	21	20		19.625		2.625
Steelers	16	21	23	12	30	16	23	17		19.750		-3.000
Bengals	24	20	21	23	16	26	24	22		22.000		-3.000
Chargers	25	26	27	13	22	20	22	26		22.625		-5.750
Panthers	20	6	28	29	29	25	20	24		22.625		1.375
Saints	19	30	31	18	32	21	25	23		24.875		-0.625
Bills	27	28	16	27	20	28	28	25		24.875		2.125
Browns	29	24	26	25	24	24	26	27		25.625		2.500
Colts	28	27	22	26	21	32	27	29		26.500		-5.125
Raiders	26	19	30	30	28	27	29	28		27.125		1.125
Titans	30	29	25	28	26	31	31	31		28.875		-0.250
Jaguars	32	31	29	31	23	29	30	30		29.375		-0.375
Chiefs	31	32	32	32	31	30	32	32		31.500		-2.500

Observations:

• I mentioned it earlier, but see the Bears ranking? Top team in the NFL based on stats, and it's not even that close.
• Yep, the Chiefs are that terrible.
• Once again, the AFC shows its futility as they occupy the bottom 7 spots in the Objective rankings. Nearly half the conference is stuck at the bottom of the list.
• Thankfully the Chargers aren't a part of that grouping ... yet.
• Of the top 20 teams in the NFL ranked "objectively", the AFC occupies just 6 of those spots. It's really quite sad. Okay maybe not sad, maybe it's good for the Chargers: the road to the playoffs would be easier.

Objective Standard Deviation

	Objective
Chiefs	31	32	32	32	31	30	32	32		0.707		-0.793
Bears	3	4	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.111		-0.341
Browns	29	24	26	25	24	24	26	27		1.654		-0.434
49ers	5	2	6	2	6	4	3	8		2.000		-0.522
Titans	30	29	25	28	26	31	31	31		2.204		-1.185
Redskins	13	15	17	17	18	11	15	11		2.546		-0.025
Packers	1	7	7	7	9	10	5	5		2.595		-3.049
Jaguars	32	31	29	31	23	29	30	30		2.595		-0.189
Falcons	7	10	2	8	8	6	9	3		2.643		1.532
Jets	15	23	18	20	17	23	21	20		2.643		-2.643
Texans	9	3	4	4	10	2	6	4		2.681		1.272
Eagles	21	13	20	14	15	18	19	16		2.739		-1.198
Bengals	24	20	21	23	16	26	24	22		2.872		-1.221
Seahawks	8	12	5	10	4	14	7	10		3.192		-0.759
Ravens	10	17	9	6	7	8	10	7		3.231		0.998
Raiders	26	19	30	30	28	27	29	28		3.333		0.606
Vikings	11	16	11	11	5	12	16	9		3.352		1.776
Colts	28	27	22	26	21	32	27	29		3.354		-0.549
Giants	2	5	3	3	14	5	2	2		3.775		-1.942
Dolphins	12	8	14	22	13	13	17	18		3.998		-0.062
Cowboys	18	9	15	15	11	22	12	19		4.106		0.615
Bills	27	28	16	27	20	28	28	25		4.196		2.538
Chargers	25	26	27	13	22	20	22	26		4.299		1.680
Lions	17	14	19	21	27	9	18	21		4.969		0.102
Saints	19	30	31	18	32	21	25	23		5.183		-0.311
Steelers	16	21	23	12	30	16	23	17		5.286		0.765
Patriots	4	18	8	5	12	3	4	15		5.337		1.663
Broncos	6	1	13	9	19	17	8	6		5.667		0.619
Buccaneers	14	22	24	19	25	7	13	12		6.042		0.190
Rams	22	11	10	24	3	19	11	13		6.566		-0.609
Cardinals	23	25	12	16	2	15	14	14		6.566		0.032
Panthers	20	6	28	29	29	25	20	24		7.140		0.875

Observations:

• Yup, the Chiefs are consistently bad.
• Bears: consistently good.
• Browns: consistently mediocre.
• If it weren't for Sagarin, the Chargers would be consistently ranked down in the 20's.
• The guy(s) at Team Efficiency even admitted their rankings don't make much sense this week. Broncos 1st? Panthers 6th? Okay ...

Overall Average

	Subj vs Obj
Bears	5.091	1.625		3.358		1.159
Giants	3.091	4.500		3.795		6.012
Falcons	1.000	6.625		3.813		-0.580
Texans	3.455	5.250		4.352		-2.664
49ers	5.546	4.500		5.023		-2.131
Ravens	3.273	9.250		6.261		0.063
Packers	7.000	6.375		6.688		5.613
Patriots	8.273	8.625		8.449		-2.949
Seahawks	8.364	8.750		8.557		5.278
Broncos	10.636	9.875		10.256		2.932
Vikings	11.182	11.375		11.278		-3.272
Cardinals	13.818	15.125		14.472		-4.074
Redskins	15.364	14.625		14.994		4.978
Eagles	13.364	17.000		15.182		-2.591
Dolphins	18.636	14.625		16.631		0.284
Steelers	13.909	19.750		16.830		-3.546
Cowboys	19.000	15.125		17.063		-0.370
Rams	20.182	14.125		17.153		-1.886
Lions	19.455	18.250		18.852		0.682
Chargers	15.818	22.625		19.222		-3.784
Jets	19.818	19.625		19.722		3.267
Bengals	18.727	22.000		20.364		-3.409
Buccaneers	23.909	17.000		20.455		3.454
Bills	23.364	24.875		24.119		2.336
Saints	24.000	24.875		24.438		-0.631
Panthers	28.000	22.625		25.313		0.096
Colts	25.546	26.500		26.023		-4.926
Browns	29.546	25.625		27.585		2.296
Titans	26.546	28.875		27.710		1.421
Raiders	29.364	27.125		28.244		0.154
Jaguars	31.364	29.375		30.369		-0.369
Chiefs	31.364	31.500		31.432		-2.841

Observations

• The Bears now jump to the top spot overall, just edging out the Giants and Falcons; it's close though.
• Wow, looks like there are clear division leaders in the AFC: Texans, Ravens, Patriots and Broncos. Even though there's a 4-way tie in the AFC East, the Patriots' nearest rival (Miami) is nearly 8 spots away.
• Chargers are part of a slightly-below average cluster that includes the Jets, Lions, Bengals and Buccaneers.
• Much like last year, Philadelphia was hyped up and have underperformed as they continue to slide down the rankings.

Overall Standard Deviation

	Subj vs Obj
Chiefs	31.364	31.500		0.674		-0.992
49ers	5.546	4.500		1.483		-0.168
Bears	5.091	1.625		2.057		0.285
Jaguars	31.364	29.375		2.061		-0.073
Titans	26.546	28.875		2.061		-0.379
Texans	3.455	5.250		2.067		0.928
Packers	7.000	6.375		2.073		-1.895
Seahawks	8.364	8.750		2.185		-0.976
Browns	29.546	25.625		2.292		0.038
Vikings	11.182	11.375		2.425		0.774
Jets	19.818	19.625		2.446		-1.294
Raiders	29.364	27.125		2.478		0.523
Redskins	15.364	14.625		2.502		0.682
Colts	25.546	26.500		2.523		-0.529
Giants	3.091	4.500		2.677		-1.869
Eagles	13.364	17.000		2.712		-0.335
Bengals	18.727	22.000		2.732		-0.898
Bills	23.364	24.875		3.244		1.238
Falcons	1.000	6.625		3.264		1.908
Patriots	8.273	8.625		3.499		1.043
Lions	19.455	18.250		3.748		-0.342
Saints	24.000	24.875		3.759		-0.199
Broncos	10.636	9.875		3.784		-0.438
Ravens	3.273	9.250		3.792		1.258
Dolphins	18.636	14.625		4.071		-1.379
Cowboys	19.000	15.125		4.404		1.747
Steelers	13.909	19.750		4.545		-0.042
Cardinals	13.818	15.125		4.804		0.298
Chargers	15.818	22.625		4.835		2.310
Buccaneers	23.909	17.000		5.252		1.267
Panthers	28.000	22.625		5.437		1.045
Rams	20.182	14.125		5.622		0.419

Observations:

• Chiefs: still consistently bad. Even I didn't expect them to be that bad this year. In fact I expected them to be kind of good.
• 49ers and Bears are consistently good. Shocker. NFC Championship Game, anyone?

Difference in Averages

	Subj vs Obj
Chargers	15.818	22.625		6.807		3.932
Ravens	3.273	9.250		5.977		1.875
Steelers	13.909	19.750		5.841		-1.091
Falcons	1.000	6.625		5.625		3.341
Eagles	13.364	17.000		3.636		0.818
Bengals	18.727	22.000		3.273		-0.818
Titans	26.546	28.875		2.330		3.341
Texans	3.455	5.250		1.796		0.421
Bills	23.364	24.875		1.511		0.420
Giants	3.091	4.500		1.409		-3.477
Cardinals	13.818	15.125		1.307		-0.398
Colts	25.546	26.500		0.955		0.398
Saints	24.000	24.875		0.875		-0.011
Seahawks	8.364	8.750		0.386		3.807
Patriots	8.273	8.625		0.352		-0.648
Vikings	11.182	11.375		0.193		1.454
Chiefs	31.364	31.500		0.136		-0.682
Jets	19.818	19.625		-0.193		1.284
Packers	7.000	6.375		-0.625		-1.773
Redskins	15.364	14.625		-0.739		-1.046
Broncos	10.636	9.875		-0.761		2.864
49ers	5.546	4.500		-1.046		-1.012
Lions	19.455	18.250		-1.205		3.363
Jaguars	31.364	29.375		-1.989		0.011
Raiders	29.364	27.125		-2.239		-1.943
Bears	5.091	1.625		-3.466		-0.682
Cowboys	19.000	15.125		-3.875		-3.989
Browns	29.546	25.625		-3.921		-0.410
Dolphins	18.636	14.625		-4.011		5.069
Panthers	28.000	22.625		-5.375		-2.557
Rams	20.182	14.125		-6.057		-4.773
Buccaneers	23.909	17.000		-6.909		-7.091

Observations:

• Oh goody, Chargers are at the top of the "Most Overrated" list. By nearly a full spot ahead of the Ravens.
• Wait, the Ravens are overrated? Already?
• Steelers are still overrated a bit. They've come closer to their stats rankings, but they still have a bit more to go. Falcons too, it seems.
• Well the Dolphins are no longer the most underrated team this week. Their difference in averages dropped by nearly 5 spots this week.
• Instead it's one of the other teams from Florida taking the "Most Underrated" crown: Tampa Bay.

Sources

• ESPN
• Fox
• CBS
• USA Today
• Sports Illustrated
• ProFootballTalk
• NFL.com
• Pro Football Weekly
• SB Nation
• Reddit
• Associated Press
• Football Outsiders
• Team Efficiency
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