2012 NFL Power Rankings Consensus: Week 10

Hurray! The Chargers aren't cheaters! Not that the "scandal" really had much impact on their rankings, but it's always good to see your team cleared of any wrongdoing when the evil Broncos Donkeys of Denver try to say the Chargers cheated.

Anyway, good news and bad news for the Chargers this week when it comes to the rankings. First up, the bad news: the Chargers dropped in the objective rankings this week. The good news: they rose in the subjective rankings this week. Bad news again: they now are one of the most "overrated" teams in the league. Good news again: their drop in the objective rankings is really only thanks to one site (BeatGraphs).

Whew, that was quite an emotional roller coaster. On to the charts!

Division Averages

Division	Avg Ranking
NFC North	10.0395
NFC West	14.4342
NFC South	14.5658
NFC East	16.5789
AFC North	17.6842
AFC East	17.7368
AFC South	19.5000
AFC West	21.4605

IT FINALLY HAPPENED! Now all 4 NFC divisions are ranked above all 4 AFC Divisions. Great team effort there, guys!

Stock Rising

Team	Week 9 Average	Week 10 Average	Difference
TB	20.182	14.636	5.546
IND	17.182	11.909	5.273
NO	24.000	19.273	4.727
CAR	29.909	26.182	3.727
SDG	20.818	17.182	3.636

Well, it's good to see the Chargers on the better list this week.

Stock Falling

Team	Week 9 Average	Week 10 Average	Difference
WAS	17.909	22.182	-4.273
PHI	16.727	20.818	-4.091
NYG	2.818	6.546	-3.728
MIN	12.091	15.364	-3.273
ARI	18.273	20.818	-2.545

No huge surprises here.

Subjective Average

	Subjective
Falcons	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		0.000
Texans	2	2	3	4	2	2	2	2	2	2	2		2.273		0.363
Bears	3	3	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	3		3.000		1.273
49ers	4	5	4	2	4	4	4	4	4	3	4		3.818		0.637
Packers	6	4	5	5	6	5	5	5	7	5	5		5.273		0.636
Giants	5	9	9	7	5	6	6	7	6	6	6		6.546		-3.728
Patriots	9	8	6	6	7	7	7	6	9	7	7		7.182		-0.091
Broncos	8	7	8	9	8	8	10	8	8	8	8		8.182		0.273
Steelers	10	6	10	8	9	9	9	9	5	10	10		8.636		1.455
Ravens	7	10	7	10	10	10	8	10	10	9	9		9.091		-0.727
Seahawks	12	13	12	11	12	12	11	11	12	11	11		11.636		1.000
Colts	11	14	11	13	11	11	12	12	11	13	12		11.909		5.273
Lions	14	12	18	12	15	14	16	14	16	15	13		14.455		1.545
Buccaneers	13	11	15	14	14	15	15	17	17	16	14		14.636		5.546
Dolphins	15	17	13	20	13	13	14	13	14	14	15		14.636		-2.363
Vikings	16	15	17	18	16	16	13	15	13	12	18		15.364		-3.273
Chargers	17	26	14	15	17	17	18	16	15	18	16		17.182		3.636
Cowboys	18	16	19	16	19	23	17	18	22	17	19		18.546		-2.455
Saints	22	18	16	17	18	19	19	20	23	23	17		19.273		4.727
Eagles	21	22	20	19	20	25	20	22	18	22	20		20.818		-4.091
Cardinals	20	21	22	23	21	21	22	19	20	19	21		20.818		-2.545
Bengals	23	19	21	21	24	18	21	24	21	21	22		21.364		-1.273
Redskins	19	20	25	25	23	24	23	23	19	20	23		22.182		-4.273
Jets	25	23	27	24	25	26	24	21	26	24	24		24.455		0.000
Rams	24	28	23	22	22	20	25	25	29	25	26		24.455		-0.364
Panthers	29	27	24	26	29	22	26	27	27	26	25		26.182		3.727
Raiders	26	25	29	27	27	27	27	26	28	28	27		27.000		-1.636
Bills	28	29	28	28	26	29	28	28	25	27	28		27.636		-0.727
Titans	27	30	26	29	30	28	29	30	24	29	29		28.273		-1.818
Browns	30	24	30	30	28	30	30	29	30	30	30		29.182		-0.727
Jaguars	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31		31.000		0.000
Chiefs	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32		32.000		0.000

Observations:

• No changes to the top team and bottom two teams. More interesting though, the Jets haven't moved at all this week; neat.
• The top 12 teams are pretty well set. I am still not at all convinced about the Colts though.
• Brian Billick (Fox) going against the grain here and ranking the Chargers as 26th, when the lowest any other site has them is 18th. This also means he thinks the Raiders are better than the Chargers, even though the Chargers beat the Raiders in Oakland on that joke of a football field.
• Even with Billick dragging the Chargers down, they still managed to climb 3.5 spots this week.

Subjective Standard Deviation

	Subjective
Jaguars	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31		0.000		0.000
Chiefs	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32	32		0.000		0.000
Falcons	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		0.000		0.000
Bears	3	3	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	3		0.426		-0.626
Texans	2	2	3	4	2	2	2	2	2	2	2		0.617		-0.026
Seahawks	12	13	12	11	12	12	11	11	12	11	11		0.643		-0.507
Broncos	8	7	8	9	8	8	10	8	8	8	8		0.716		0.218
49ers	4	5	4	2	4	4	4	4	4	3	4		0.716		-0.175
Packers	6	4	5	5	6	5	5	5	7	5	5		0.750		0.236
Colts	11	14	11	13	11	11	12	12	11	13	12		0.996		-3.200
Patriots	9	8	6	6	7	7	7	6	9	7	7		1.029		0.515
Raiders	26	25	29	27	27	27	27	26	28	28	27		1.045		0.066
Bills	28	29	28	28	26	29	28	28	25	27	28		1.150		-0.631
Ravens	7	10	7	10	10	10	8	10	10	9	9		1.164		0.393
Cardinals	20	21	22	23	21	21	22	19	20	19	21		1.192		-1.147
Giants	5	9	9	7	5	6	6	7	6	6	6		1.305		0.472
Jets	25	23	27	24	25	26	24	21	26	24	24		1.559		0.000
Steelers	10	6	10	8	9	9	9	9	5	10	10		1.611		1.323
Buccaneers	13	11	15	14	14	15	15	17	17	16	14		1.666		-1.767
Lions	14	12	18	12	15	14	16	14	16	15	13		1.725		-0.761
Browns	30	24	30	30	28	30	30	29	30	30	30		1.749		0.190
Bengals	23	19	21	21	24	18	21	24	21	21	22		1.772		-0.009
Eagles	21	22	20	19	20	25	20	22	18	22	20		1.800		-0.460
Titans	27	30	26	29	30	28	29	30	24	29	29		1.814		-0.247
Vikings	16	15	17	18	16	16	13	15	13	12	18		1.920		1.127
Panthers	29	27	24	26	29	22	26	27	27	26	25		1.946		1.658
Dolphins	15	17	13	20	13	13	14	13	14	14	15		2.057		0.637
Cowboys	18	16	19	16	19	23	17	18	22	17	19		2.148		-0.630
Redskins	19	20	25	25	23	24	23	23	19	20	23		2.167		0.491
Saints	22	18	16	17	18	19	19	20	23	23	17		2.339		-0.219
Rams	24	28	23	22	22	20	25	25	29	25	26		2.536		0.070
Chargers	17	26	14	15	17	17	18	16	15	18	16		3.040		0.383

Observations:

• Not all that surprised that the Chargers are at the bottom of this list considering Billick's rankings.
• Oh hey another neat thing about the Jets: their standard deviation remained the same this week as well. That means, across all 11 subjective rankings sites this week, their rankings stayed the same. I don't think that's ever happened.
• Remember when I said the top 12 was pretty well set? I was right.

Objective Average

	Objective
49ers	1	2	5	3	1	4	2	2		2.500		0.125
Texans	8	3	3	1	3	1	4	1		3.000		-0.125
Bears	5	12	1	2	6	3	1	4		4.250		1.875
Falcons	9	6	2	6	5	5	8	3		5.500		-0.375
Packers	3	9	4	7	2	8	7	5		5.625		1.375
Broncos	4	1	6	4	10	12	5	6		6.000		-1.000
Patriots	2	11	7	5	7	2	3	12		6.125		0.000
Giants	7	7	8	8	9	7	6	8		7.500		-2.250
Seahawks	6	5	11	9	8	14	9	7		8.625		2.250
Steelers	10	14	9	10	13	9	12	11		11.000		2.125
Ravens	12	22	10	13	4	11	14	9		11.875		1.375
Buccaneers	14	16	16	11	14	6	10	10		12.125		3.250
Cowboys	11	8	14	12	11	18	11	22		13.375		0.875
Dolphins	13	13	15	14	22	13	13	13		14.500		-4.375
Lions	16	10	13	17	21	10	16	18		15.125		-0.250
Panthers	15	4	19	15	18	19	15	17		15.250		6.250
Vikings	17	23	20	16	15	15	17	21		18.000		-4.375
Jets	20	18	18	22	16	24	20	16		19.250		0.875
Redskins	19	17	24	19	27	17	18	20		20.125		-2.500
Cardinals	22	25	23	23	20	21	19	14		20.875		-2.625
Saints	18	28	17	20	28	16	21	24		21.500		3.500
Rams	21	15	21	18	24	28	23	23		21.625		0.000
Eagles	26	20	25	26	25	22	24	15		22.875		-2.875
Colts	28	26	12	25	12	27	26	28		23.000		1.625
Chargers	24	24	26	21	29	20	22	19		23.125		-1.000
Bengals	23	19	29	24	23	25	25	25		24.125		0.625
Raiders	27	21	28	28	30	26	28	27		26.875		-3.125
Bills	25	29	27	27	17	32	29	30		27.000		0.125
Browns	29	27	30	29	26	23	27	26		27.125		-0.625
Titans	31	30	22	30	19	29	31	31		27.875		-0.500
Jaguars	30	31	31	31	31	30	30	29		30.375		-0.250
Chiefs	32	32	32	32	32	31	32	32		31.875		0.000

Observations:

• So I mentioned the Chargers actually went down in the Objective rankings this week. It's not all bad news though, the biggest reason for this is BeatGraphs dropped the Chargers from 13th to 29th. 5 of the 9 objective sources actually raised the Chargers this week. So think of it as a "market correction".
• The 9 bottom teams in objective average are all AFC teams. And sadly, that includes the Chargers now.
• The top 12 teams are relatively even: 7 NFC and 5 AFC teams; it's not as lopsided at the top as it used to be.
• Oh hey cool, the Patriots objective average didn't change at all this week, just like the Jets.
• Last week it was BeatGraphs, this week it's Troy Aikman keeping the Chiefs from being a unanimous worst team.

Objective Standard Deviation

	Objective
Chiefs	32	32	32	32	32	31	32	32		0.331		0.000
Jaguars	30	31	31	31	31	30	30	29		0.696		-0.357
Giants	7	7	8	8	9	7	6	8		0.866		-1.720
49ers	1	2	5	3	1	4	2	2		1.323		-0.086
Steelers	10	14	9	10	13	9	12	11		1.732		-1.712
Browns	29	27	30	29	26	23	27	26		2.088		0.088
Texans	8	3	3	1	3	1	4	1		2.179		0.416
Falcons	9	6	2	6	5	5	8	3		2.179		0.091
Packers	3	9	4	7	2	8	7	5		2.342		0.163
Raiders	27	21	28	28	30	26	28	27		2.472		-1.261
Bengals	23	19	29	24	23	25	25	25		2.619		1.140
Jets	20	18	18	22	16	24	20	16		2.634		0.607
Seahawks	6	5	11	9	8	14	9	7		2.690		-0.287
Vikings	17	23	20	16	15	15	17	21		2.784		-2.530
Dolphins	13	13	15	14	22	13	13	13		2.916		1.989
Chargers	24	24	26	21	29	20	22	19		3.100		-1.214
Cardinals	22	25	23	23	20	21	19	14		3.140		-1.517
Buccaneers	14	16	16	11	14	6	10	10		3.257		-3.724
Broncos	4	1	6	4	10	12	5	6		3.279		0.000
Redskins	19	17	24	19	27	17	18	20		3.333		-0.440
Bears	5	12	1	2	6	3	1	4		3.382		-0.204
Eagles	26	20	25	26	25	22	24	15		3.551		0.311
Patriots	2	11	7	5	7	2	3	12		3.621		0.070
Lions	16	10	13	17	21	10	16	18		3.621		0.817
Rams	21	15	21	18	24	28	23	23		3.672		0.592
Cowboys	11	8	14	12	11	18	11	22		4.241		0.972
Bills	25	29	27	27	17	32	29	30		4.272		1.904
Titans	31	30	22	30	19	29	31	31		4.371		-0.397
Saints	18	28	17	20	28	16	21	24		4.416		0.479
Panthers	15	4	19	15	18	19	15	17		4.548		-2.505
Ravens	12	22	10	13	4	11	14	9		4.781		1.290
Colts	28	26	12	25	12	27	26	28		6.423		0.100

Observations:

• Unlike the Jets, the Patriots' standard deviation did not stay the same this week.
• But the Broncos' did! So that just means while the Broncos moved down 1 full spot this week in the Objective rankings, they did so in unison, essentially.
• Chargers are actually one of the more consistently-ranked teams. Not sure that's a good thing with their highest ranking being 20th, but whatever.

Overall Average

	Subj vs Obj
Texans	2.273	3.000		2.636		0.120
49ers	3.818	2.500		3.159		0.381
Falcons	1.000	5.500		3.250		-0.187
Bears	3.000	4.250		3.625		1.574
Packers	5.273	5.625		5.449		1.006
Patriots	7.182	6.125		6.653		-0.045
Giants	6.546	7.500		7.023		-2.989
Broncos	8.182	6.000		7.091		-0.364
Steelers	8.636	11.000		9.818		1.790
Seahawks	11.636	8.625		10.131		1.625
Ravens	9.091	11.875		10.483		0.324
Buccaneers	14.636	12.125		13.381		4.397
Dolphins	14.636	14.500		14.568		-3.369
Lions	14.455	15.125		14.790		0.648
Cowboys	18.546	13.375		15.960		-0.790
Vikings	15.364	18.000		16.682		-3.824
Colts	11.909	23.000		17.455		3.448
Chargers	17.182	23.125		20.153		1.319
Saints	19.273	21.500		20.386		4.114
Panthers	26.182	15.250		20.716		4.989
Cardinals	20.818	20.875		20.847		-2.586
Redskins	22.182	20.125		21.153		-3.386
Eagles	20.818	22.875		21.847		-3.483
Jets	24.455	19.250		21.852		0.438
Bengals	21.364	24.125		22.744		-0.324
Rams	24.455	21.625		23.040		-0.182
Raiders	27.000	26.875		26.938		-2.381
Bills	27.636	27.000		27.318		-0.301
Titans	28.273	27.875		28.074		-1.159
Browns	29.182	27.125		28.153		-0.676
Jaguars	31.000	30.375		30.688		-0.125
Chiefs	32.000	31.875		31.938		0.000

Observations:

• Falcons now drop to 3rd overall, behind Houston and San Francisco, and just barely ahead of the Bears.
• Just look at that definite cluster of teams.
• Thanks, subjective rankers, for bringing the Chargers up out of the cellar!
• Chiefs only team to have the same exact overall average this week.

Overall Standard Deviation

	Subj vs Obj
Chiefs	32.000	31.875		0.223		0.000
Jaguars	31.000	30.375		0.547		-0.262
49ers	3.818	2.500		1.207		-0.246
Giants	6.546	7.500		1.234		-0.925
Texans	2.273	3.000		1.533		0.283
Packers	5.273	5.625		1.632		0.069
Raiders	27.000	26.875		1.791		-0.866
Steelers	8.636	11.000		2.032		-0.667
Browns	29.182	27.125		2.153		0.147
Cardinals	20.818	20.875		2.231		-1.276
Bears	3.000	4.250		2.303		-0.322
Seahawks	11.636	8.625		2.344		0.052
Broncos	8.182	6.000		2.446		-0.307
Dolphins	14.636	14.500		2.456		0.827
Patriots	7.182	6.125		2.531		0.146
Bengals	21.364	24.125		2.562		-0.275
Falcons	1.000	5.500		2.634		0.188
Vikings	15.364	18.000		2.663		-0.918
Lions	14.455	15.125		2.711		0.028
Buccaneers	14.636	12.125		2.759		-2.983
Eagles	20.818	22.875		2.866		-0.295
Redskins	22.182	20.125		2.903		0.139
Bills	27.636	27.000		2.924		0.872
Titans	28.273	27.875		3.161		-0.337
Jets	24.455	19.250		3.306		0.530
Rams	24.455	21.625		3.369		0.369
Ravens	9.091	11.875		3.507		0.146
Saints	19.273	21.500		3.548		0.298
Cowboys	18.546	13.375		4.094		0.964
Chargers	17.182	23.125		4.243		0.730
Panthers	26.182	15.250		6.327		0.144
Colts	11.909	23.000		6.923		0.556

Observations:

• No surprise that the Chiefs have the lowest Standard Deviation, and it's the same as last week.
• Chargers towards the bottom of this chart, mostly thanks to Billick.
• Panthers and Colts are at the bottom of the consistency ranking, but for two very different reasons (we'll get to that shortly).

Difference in Averages

	Subj vs Obj
Colts	11.909	23.000		11.091		3.648
Chargers	17.182	23.125		5.943		4.636
Falcons	1.000	5.500		4.500		0.375
Ravens	9.091	11.875		2.784		-2.102
Bengals	21.364	24.125		2.761		-1.898
Vikings	15.364	18.000		2.636		1.102
Steelers	8.636	11.000		2.364		-0.670
Saints	19.273	21.500		2.227		1.227
Eagles	20.818	22.875		2.057		-1.216
Bears	3.000	4.250		1.250		-0.602
Giants	6.546	7.500		0.955		-1.477
Texans	2.273	3.000		0.727		0.488
Lions	14.455	15.125		0.671		1.796
Packers	5.273	5.625		0.352		-0.739
Cardinals	20.818	20.875		0.057		0.080
Raiders	27.000	26.875		-0.125		1.489
Chiefs	32.000	31.875		-0.125		0.000
Dolphins	14.636	14.500		-0.136		2.012
Titans	28.273	27.875		-0.398		-1.319
Jaguars	31.000	30.375		-0.625		0.250
Bills	27.636	27.000		-0.636		-0.852
Patriots	7.182	6.125		-1.057		-0.091
49ers	3.818	2.500		-1.318		0.512
Browns	29.182	27.125		-2.057		-0.102
Redskins	22.182	20.125		-2.057		-1.773
Broncos	8.182	6.000		-2.182		1.273
Buccaneers	14.636	12.125		-2.511		2.296
Rams	24.455	21.625		-2.830		-0.364
Seahawks	11.636	8.625		-3.011		-1.250
Cowboys	18.546	13.375		-5.171		-3.330
Jets	24.455	19.250		-5.205		-0.875
Panthers	26.182	15.250		-10.932		-2.523

Observations:

• The Colts led the "most overrated" list last week, and they do it again this week. And that gap even grew this week!
• Thank goodness for the Colts or else the Chargers would be the most overrated team this week. Instead they'll have to settle for second place.
• See how the Falcons are pretty overrated still? Said Football Outsiders: "Atlanta has the lowest DVOA of any 8-0 team during the DVOA Era. In fact, even if we included both 8-0 and 7-1 teams, the 2012 Falcons come out ranked 40th out of 43 teams."
• As much as the Colts are overrated, the Panthers are now underrated. Wow, guess a slow start will really get people to just give up on you.

Sources

• ESPN
• Fox
• CBS
• USA Today
• Sports Illustrated
• ProFootballTalk
• NFL.com
• Pro Football Weekly
• SB Nation
• Reddit
• Associated Press
• Football Outsiders
• Team Efficiency
• Team Rankings
• Sagarin
• BeatGraphs
• Aikman Efficiency
• Pro Football Reference
• Cold Hard Football Facts