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2012 NFL Power Rankings Consensus: Week 9

The Chargers lost to the Browns on Sunday. Naturally that means they're now the worst team in the NFL, right?

By John Crean

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Anyone else hear "Jesus Christ Superstar" playing in the background? Just me? Okay.
Anyone else hear "Jesus Christ Superstar" playing in the background? Just me? Okay.
Scott Cunningham

Despite the fact the Chargers lost to the Cleveland Browns this week, only two of the 19 ranking site ranked the Browns as higher than the Chargers. Yay? So the Chargers lost to an inferior opponent? Sounds about right.

The Chargers finally make an appearance on this week's "Stock Falling" list, though they aren't the team that fell the most this week. That distinction goes to the Jets and Saints. Once things started looking up in New Orleans, the Saints got completely bulldozed by the Broncos. New Orleans has fallen just about as many spots this week as they rose last week, so let's consider it a "correction."

If you've been paying attention the last few weeks, you know that I had been harping on how the Dolphins are actually much better than people had been giving them credit. Well, the media is finally taking notice and they're climbing up the ranks. One thing that makes me scratch my head though: the Colts. They win by 4 points over a bottom-5 teams and now they're up an average of nearly 7 spots, and 3 subjective sites have them ranked in the top-12!

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking
NFC North 9.9211
NFC East 13.7632
NFC West 14.2237
AFC East 16.9211
AFC North 17.8684
NFC South 17.9211
AFC South 20.1316
AFC West 21.2500

With the Chargers falling in the rankings, they're now dragging the AFC West average down. If only the NFC South would get their act together and all 4 NFC divisions would outrank all 4 AFC divisions. Then they could rename the AFC to the "American Futility Conference."

Stock Rising

Team Week 8 Average Week 9 Average Difference
IND 24.000 17.182 6.818
DET 21.500 16.000 5.500
MIA 17.667 12.273 5.394
TB 25.417 20.182 5.235
OAK 28.250 25.364 2.886

Stock Falling

Team Week 8 Average Week 9 Average Difference
NYJ 19.667 24.455 -4.788
NO 19.667 24.000 -4.333
SDG 17.417 20.818 -3.401
STL 21.333 24.091 -2.758
PHI 14.167 16.727 -2.560

Subjective Average

Subjective
ESPN Fox CBS USA Today Sports Illustrated ProFootballTalk NFL.com Pro Football Weekly SB Nation Reddit Associated Press Average Change since last period
Falcons 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.167 Rising
Texans 3 3 2 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 2.636 -0.053 Falling
Giants 2 4 4 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 2 2.818 -0.151 Falling
Bears 5 2 3 6 5 4 4 4 4 5 5 4.273 0.227 Rising
49ers 4 5 6 3 4 5 5 5 5 3 4 4.455 0.212 Rising
Packers 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 5.909 -0.159 Falling
Patriots 8 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7.091 0.326 Rising
Ravens 7 8 7 9 9 9 8 9 8 9 9 8.364 -0.697 Falling
Broncos 9 9 9 8 8 8 9 8 9 8 8 8.455 1.628 Rising
Steelers 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10.091 1.826 Rising
Vikings 11 13 11 13 13 13 12 12 11 12 12 12.091 -2.508 Falling
Dolphins 12 10 14 15 11 12 13 11 13 13 11 12.273 5.394 Rising
Seahawks 13 14 13 11 14 14 11 13 12 11 13 12.636 -2.469 Falling
Lions 17 19 12 12 17 16 18 14 19 18 14 16.000 5.500 Rising
Cowboys 14 16 15 14 15 23 14 17 20 14 15 16.091 -0.508 Falling
Eagles 18 15 21 16 16 21 15 15 14 16 17 16.727 -2.560 Falling
Colts 15 12 23 22 12 11 16 20 21 21 16 17.182 6.818 Rising
Redskins 19 22 17 17 18 17 19 18 15 17 18 17.909 -2.326 Falling
Cardinals 16 20 20 23 19 19 17 16 16 15 20 18.273 -1.356 Falling
Bengals 22 18 18 21 23 18 20 22 18 20 21 20.091 0.409 Rising
Buccaneers 21 28 16 18 20 15 21 21 24 19 19 20.182 5.235 Rising
Chargers 20 17 26 19 21 24 22 19 17 22 22 20.818 -3.401 Falling
Saints 26 25 19 20 26 22 24 26 27 26 23 24.000 -4.333 Falling
Rams 23 21 27 24 22 20 25 25 28 23 27 24.091 -2.758 Falling
Jets 25 24 22 28 24 26 23 23 25 25 24 24.455 -4.788 Falling
Raiders 24 27 25 25 25 25 26 24 26 27 25 25.364 2.886 Rising
Titans 27 23 29 26 27 28 27 28 22 28 26 26.455 -2.205 Falling
Bills 28 26 28 27 28 29 28 27 23 24 28 26.909 -0.659 Falling
Browns 29 29 24 30 29 27 29 29 29 29 29 28.455 1.045 Rising
Panthers 30 30 30 29 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 29.909 -0.576 Falling
Jaguars 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.667 Rising
Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 -0.833 Falling

Observations:

  • So long as the Falcons remain undefeated, they'll be your consensus number-1.
  • Oh good, we're back to at least having parity in the top-12 as there's an even 6/6 split between AFC and NFC teams in the top-12
  • Though, if you look at the "Average" column, there's a definite line between the Seahawks and Lions, so technically we have a clear top-13 list. Tipping the scale in the NFC's favor.
  • Losing to the Browns tends to cause your rankings to drop a bit, and the Chargers aren't immune.
  • Jaguars and Chiefs are unanimous 31 and 32. The Panthers would have been too if it weren't for USA Today.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective
ESPN Fox CBS USA Today Sports Illustrated ProFootballTalk NFL.com Pro Football Weekly SB Nation Reddit Associated Press Standard Deviation Change since last period
Jaguars 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 0.000 -0.471 Falling
Chiefs 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.000 -0.687 Falling
Falcons 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.000 -0.553 Falling
Panthers 30 30 30 29 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 0.288 -0.457 Falling
Steelers 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 0.288 -0.471 Falling
Broncos 9 9 9 8 8 8 9 8 9 8 8 0.498 -0.884 Falling
Packers 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 0.514 -0.081 Falling
Patriots 8 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 0.514 -0.245 Falling
Texans 3 3 2 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 0.643 -0.219 Falling
Ravens 7 8 7 9 9 9 8 9 8 9 9 0.771 -0.335 Falling
Vikings 11 13 11 13 13 13 12 12 11 12 12 0.793 -0.069 Falling
Giants 2 4 4 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 2 0.833 0.088 Rising
49ers 4 5 6 3 4 5 5 5 5 3 4 0.891 -0.136 Falling
Raiders 24 27 25 25 25 25 26 24 26 27 25 0.979 0.055 Rising
Bears 5 2 3 6 5 4 4 4 4 5 5 1.052 -0.448 Falling
Seahawks 13 14 13 11 14 14 11 13 12 11 13 1.150 0.164 Rising
Dolphins 12 10 14 15 11 12 13 11 13 13 11 1.420 -1.561 Falling
Browns 29 29 24 30 29 27 29 29 29 29 29 1.559 0.913 Rising
Jets 25 24 22 28 24 26 23 23 25 25 24 1.559 -1.097 Falling
Redskins 19 22 17 17 18 17 19 18 15 17 18 1.676 -0.502 Falling
Bills 28 26 28 27 28 29 28 27 23 24 28 1.781 0.617 Rising
Bengals 22 18 18 21 23 18 20 22 18 20 21 1.781 -0.281 Falling
Titans 27 23 29 26 27 28 27 28 22 28 26 2.061 0.323 Rising
Eagles 18 15 21 16 16 21 15 15 14 16 17 2.260 0.536 Rising
Cardinals 16 20 20 23 19 19 17 16 16 15 20 2.339 0.123 Rising
Rams 23 21 27 24 22 20 25 25 28 23 27 2.466 -0.459 Falling
Lions 17 19 12 12 17 16 18 14 19 18 14 2.486 0.020 Rising
Saints 26 25 19 20 26 22 24 26 27 26 23 2.558 -0.479 Falling
Chargers 20 17 26 19 21 24 22 19 17 22 22 2.657 -0.065 Falling
Cowboys 14 16 15 14 15 23 14 17 20 14 15 2.778 -0.005 Falling
Buccaneers 21 28 16 18 20 15 21 21 24 19 19 3.433 1.777 Rising
Colts 15 12 23 22 12 11 16 20 21 21 16 4.196 2.416 Rising

Observations:

  • Not really going to comment about the top-4 teams that are near the limits.
  • Wow, the steelers would have been a unanimous 10th-ranked team if it weren't for CBS
  • In fact, it looks like the top 12 teams are pretty well set.
  • Things really get muddled when you start talking about teams in the middle. Again, is it apathy or truly inconsistent teams?

Objective Average

Objective
Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs Aikman Efficiency Pro Football Reference Cold Hard Football Facts Average Change since last period
49ers 2 2 5 1 2 4 1 4 2.625 0.625 Rising
Texans 7 3 2 2 4 2 2 1 2.875 0.625 Rising
Broncos 1 1 7 5 7 11 6 2 5.000 2.625 Rising
Falcons 8 5 1 6 5 6 7 3 5.125 1.875 Rising
Giants 4 4 4 4 12 5 4 5 5.250 1.375 Rising
Patriots 3 13 8 7 6 1 3 8 6.125 2.000 Rising
Bears 5 14 3 3 9 3 5 7 6.125 -2.000 Falling
Packers 6 11 6 8 3 8 8 6 7.000 -3.125 Falling
Dolphins 10 9 9 10 10 10 11 12 10.125 3.750 Rising
Seahawks 9 7 12 9 15 16 9 10 10.875 -2.000 Falling
Steelers 12 12 11 15 21 9 14 11 13.125 4.125 Rising
Ravens 11 22 10 13 11 13 13 13 13.250 1.250 Rising
Vikings 13 21 16 14 1 14 16 14 13.625 -4.125 Falling
Cowboys 14 8 15 12 18 17 12 18 14.250 0.625 Rising
Lions 15 10 13 16 17 12 17 19 14.875 0.625 Rising
Buccaneers 16 19 23 11 28 7 10 9 15.375 3.625 Rising
Redskins 17 15 19 17 27 15 15 16 17.625 -2.375 Falling
Cardinals 21 24 22 18 8 20 18 15 18.250 -3.000 Falling
Eagles 19 16 18 23 25 18 24 17 20.000 0.250 Rising
Jets 18 20 17 20 22 24 20 20 20.125 -1.250 Falling
Panthers 20 6 30 21 30 23 19 23 21.500 2.875 Rising
Rams 23 17 20 19 20 27 22 25 21.625 -7.375 Falling
Chargers 25 25 28 22 13 19 21 24 22.125 -0.625 Falling
Raiders 24 18 21 27 19 25 28 28 23.750 2.000 Rising
Colts 29 28 14 25 14 30 27 30 24.625 1.000 Rising
Bengals 26 23 26 26 24 26 25 22 24.750 -0.250 Falling
Saints 22 30 27 24 32 21 23 21 25.000 -0.750 Falling
Browns 28 26 29 28 26 22 26 27 26.500 0.250 Rising
Bills 27 27 25 29 23 31 29 26 27.125 -0.875 Falling
Titans 31 29 24 30 16 29 31 29 27.375 -1.500 Falling
Jaguars 30 31 31 31 29 28 30 31 30.125 -0.125 Falling
Chiefs 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31.875 -0.125 Falling

Observations:

  • Looks like the media was actually right about the Steelers being pretty good as their subjective rankings are finally catching up to them.
  • Huh ... BeatGraphs and Team Rankings both have the Colts at 14th, while all the others have them at 27th or worse. Maybe those pundits aren't so crazy? Naw, they probably are.
  • Well at least BeatGraphs still has the Chargers up in 13th.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective
Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs Aikman Efficiency Pro Football Reference Cold Hard Football Facts Standard Deviation Change since last period
Chiefs 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 0.331 -0.330 Falling
Dolphins 10 9 9 10 10 10 11 12 0.927 -2.659 Falling
Jaguars 30 31 31 31 29 28 30 31 1.053 -0.605 Falling
49ers 2 2 5 1 2 4 1 4 1.409 0.110 Rising
Bengals 26 23 26 26 24 26 25 22 1.479 -0.102 Falling
Texans 7 3 2 2 4 2 2 1 1.763 -0.473 Falling
Browns 28 26 29 28 26 22 26 27 2.000 0.146 Rising
Jets 18 20 17 20 22 24 20 20 2.027 -0.907 Falling
Falcons 8 5 1 6 5 6 7 3 2.088 -0.912 Falling
Packers 6 11 6 8 3 8 8 6 2.179 0.643 Rising
Bills 27 27 25 29 23 31 29 26 2.368 -0.120 Falling
Giants 4 4 4 4 12 5 4 5 2.586 -4.502 Falling
Lions 15 10 13 16 17 12 17 19 2.804 -0.550 Falling
Seahawks 9 7 12 9 15 16 9 10 2.977 -0.041 Falling
Rams 23 17 20 19 20 27 22 25 3.080 -0.586 Falling
Eagles 19 16 18 23 25 18 24 17 3.240 0.009 Rising
Cowboys 14 8 15 12 18 17 12 18 3.269 -0.650 Falling
Broncos 1 1 7 5 7 11 6 2 3.279 -0.991 Falling
Steelers 12 12 11 15 21 9 14 11 3.444 0.292 Rising
Ravens 11 22 10 13 11 13 13 13 3.491 -0.350 Falling
Patriots 3 13 8 7 6 1 3 8 3.551 -0.304 Falling
Bears 5 14 3 3 9 3 5 7 3.586 -0.069 Falling
Raiders 24 18 21 27 19 25 28 28 3.733 0.351 Rising
Redskins 17 15 19 17 27 15 15 16 3.773 -1.094 Falling
Saints 22 30 27 24 32 21 23 21 3.937 -0.584 Falling
Chargers 25 25 28 22 13 19 21 24 4.314 -0.158 Falling
Cardinals 21 24 22 18 8 20 18 15 4.657 -0.815 Falling
Titans 31 29 24 30 16 29 31 29 4.768 -1.178 Falling
Vikings 13 21 16 14 1 14 16 14 5.314 0.926 Rising
Colts 29 28 14 25 14 30 27 30 6.323 2.202 Rising
Buccaneers 16 19 23 11 28 7 10 9 6.981 -0.316 Falling
Panthers 20 6 30 21 30 23 19 23 7.053 1.669 Rising

Observations:

  • Yes, the Chiefs really are that terrible. And yes, the Dolphins are actually pretty good.
  • 49ers and Texans are consistently good, Bengals and Browns consistently not good.
  • Oh boy, the Panthers and Buccaneers are all over the board. The Colts aren't so much as the other 6 sites are in agreement that they're not great.
  • Chargers, not that good.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Average Change since last period
Texans 2.636 2.875 2.756 0.286 Rising
Falcons 1.000 5.125 3.063 1.020 Rising
49ers 4.455 2.625 3.540 0.418 Rising
Giants 2.818 5.250 4.034 0.612 Rising
Bears 4.273 6.125 5.199 -0.886 Falling
Packers 5.909 7.000 6.455 -1.642 Falling
Patriots 7.091 6.125 6.608 1.163 Rising
Broncos 8.455 5.000 6.727 2.127 Rising
Ravens 8.364 13.250 10.807 0.276 Rising
Dolphins 12.273 10.125 11.199 4.572 Rising
Steelers 10.091 13.125 11.608 2.975 Rising
Seahawks 12.636 10.875 11.756 -2.235 Falling
Vikings 12.091 13.625 12.858 -3.316 Falling
Cowboys 16.091 14.250 15.170 0.059 Rising
Lions 16.000 14.875 15.438 3.062 Rising
Redskins 17.909 17.625 17.767 -2.350 Falling
Buccaneers 20.182 15.375 17.778 4.430 Rising
Cardinals 18.273 18.250 18.261 -2.178 Falling
Eagles 16.727 20.000 18.364 -1.156 Falling
Colts 17.182 24.625 20.903 3.910 Rising
Chargers 20.818 22.125 21.472 -2.014 Falling
Jets 24.455 20.125 22.290 -3.019 Falling
Bengals 20.091 24.750 22.420 0.080 Rising
Rams 24.091 21.625 22.858 -5.066 Falling
Saints 24.000 25.000 24.500 -2.542 Falling
Raiders 25.364 23.750 24.557 2.443 Rising
Panthers 29.909 21.500 25.705 1.149 Rising
Titans 26.455 27.375 26.915 -1.852 Falling
Bills 26.909 27.125 27.017 -0.767 Falling
Browns 28.455 26.500 27.477 0.648 Rising
Jaguars 31.000 30.125 30.563 0.270 Rising
Chiefs 32.000 31.875 31.938 -0.480 Falling

Observations:

  • The Texans once again are this week's overall top team, and they actually climbed the rankings this week. So they're even bestier.
  • Falcons are climbing the ranks here too as they switched spots with the 49ers for the second spot.
  • 5 of the top 6 teams are in the NFC, 6 of the bottom 7 teans are in the AFC. Thankfully the Chargers aren't a part of that 5 ... yet.
  • Actually, it's interesting how the conferences are clustered together. 1 AFC, then 5 NFC, then 5 AFC, then 8 NFC, then 4 AFC. Fun.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Standard Deviation Change since last period
Chiefs 32.000 31.875 0.223 -0.512 Falling
Jaguars 31.000 30.125 0.809 -0.569 Falling
Texans 2.636 2.875 1.250 -0.377 Falling
49ers 4.455 2.625 1.453 0.115 Rising
Packers 5.909 7.000 1.563 0.149 Rising
Dolphins 12.273 10.125 1.629 -2.103 Falling
Browns 28.455 26.500 2.006 0.151 Rising
Bills 26.909 27.125 2.052 0.239 Rising
Giants 2.818 5.250 2.159 -2.759 Falling
Seahawks 12.636 10.875 2.292 0.141 Rising
Patriots 7.091 6.125 2.385 -0.147 Falling
Falcons 1.000 5.125 2.446 -1.011 Falling
Bears 4.273 6.125 2.625 0.031 Rising
Raiders 25.364 23.750 2.657 0.090 Rising
Lions 16.000 14.875 2.683 -1.415 Falling
Steelers 10.091 13.125 2.699 -0.640 Falling
Broncos 8.455 5.000 2.753 -0.392 Falling
Redskins 17.909 17.625 2.764 -0.750 Falling
Jets 24.455 20.125 2.776 -0.022 Falling
Bengals 20.091 24.750 2.837 0.118 Rising
Rams 24.091 21.625 3.000 -1.749 Falling
Cowboys 16.091 14.250 3.130 -0.173 Falling
Eagles 16.727 20.000 3.161 -0.691 Falling
Saints 24.000 25.000 3.250 -1.080 Falling
Ravens 8.364 13.250 3.361 -0.863 Falling
Titans 26.455 27.375 3.498 -0.575 Falling
Cardinals 18.273 18.250 3.507 -0.441 Falling
Chargers 20.818 22.125 3.513 -0.543 Falling
Vikings 12.091 13.625 3.581 0.727 Rising
Buccaneers 20.182 15.375 5.742 0.012 Rising
Panthers 29.909 21.500 6.183 1.961 Rising
Colts 17.182 24.625 6.367 3.313 Rising

Observations:

  • Chiefs and Jaguars are bad. Too bad the Chargers don't play them both again this year.
  • Colts, Panthers and Buccaneers are all over the board, and it's not even close to the next most-inconsistent teams.
  • Chargers are in the bottom-5 as far as ranking consistency this week, but their Standard Deviation actually went down this week!
  • In fact, 20 teams had their Standard Deviation fall this week, with only 12 having theirs go up. The rankings are becoming more and more consistent.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Standard Deviation Change since last period
Colts 17.182 24.625 7.443 5.818 Rising
Ravens 8.364 13.250 4.886 -1.947 Rising
Bengals 20.091 24.750 4.659 0.659 Rising
Falcons 1.000 5.125 4.125 -1.708 Rising
Eagles 16.727 20.000 3.273 -2.810 Rising
Steelers 10.091 13.125 3.034 -2.299 Rising
Giants 2.818 5.250 2.432 -1.526 Rising
Bears 4.273 6.125 1.852 2.227 Rising
Vikings 12.091 13.625 1.534 1.617 Rising
Chargers 20.818 22.125 1.307 -2.776 Rising
Packers 5.909 7.000 1.091 2.966 Rising
Saints 24.000 25.000 1.000 -3.583 Rising
Titans 26.455 27.375 0.921 -0.704 Rising
Texans 2.636 2.875 0.239 -0.678 Rising
Bills 26.909 27.125 0.216 0.216 Rising
Cardinals 18.273 18.250 -0.023 1.644 Rising
Chiefs 32.000 31.875 -0.125 -0.708 Rising
Redskins 17.909 17.625 -0.284 0.049 Rising
Jaguars 31.000 30.125 -0.875 0.792 Rising
Patriots 7.091 6.125 -0.966 -1.674 Rising
Lions 16.000 14.875 -1.125 4.875 Rising
Raiders 25.364 23.750 -1.614 0.886 Rising
Seahawks 12.636 10.875 -1.761 -0.469 Rising
49ers 4.455 2.625 -1.830 -0.413 Rising
Cowboys 16.091 14.250 -1.841 -1.133 Rising
Browns 28.455 26.500 -1.955 0.795 Rising
Dolphins 12.273 10.125 -2.148 1.644 Rising
Rams 24.091 21.625 -2.466 4.617 Rising
Broncos 8.455 5.000 -3.455 -0.997 Rising
Jets 24.455 20.125 -4.330 -3.538 Rising
Buccaneers 20.182 15.375 -4.807 1.610 Rising
Panthers 29.909 21.500 -8.409 -3.451 Rising

Observations:

  • Hooray! The Chargers are no longer near the top of this list. But believe it or not, they're still slightly overrated.
  • Glad I'm not crazy for scratching my head at those Colts rankings. Wow, vastly ranked way too high.
  • Ravens still have a little more to fall, as do the Bengals.
  • Falcons aren't nearly as dominant as the subjective rankings will have you believe.
  • The Eagles are overrated still, I'm going to blame it on the East Coast Bias (it's the thing for a west coast team to do).
  • Everyone is being way too harsh on the Panthers. Cam Newton goes through a sophomore slump and all of a sudden they're worse than the Browns.
  • As crazy good as the Broncos have played recently, they're actually better than their perception. That's scary.
  • Good news for Chiefs fans: they're under-ranked! But by only 1/8th of a ranking.

Sources

In This Stream

2012 NFL Consensus Power Rankings

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