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2012 NFL Power Rankings Consensus: Week 16

Chargers are holding steady in the bottom-quarter of the league. Meanwhile the Redskins are surging.

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"ALL ABOARD THE REDSKINS BANDWAGON! WE'LL WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS"
"ALL ABOARD THE REDSKINS BANDWAGON! WE'LL WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS"
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It really feels like the NFL season just started, and yet there are only 2 more of these posts left after this week. Where has the season gone? For that matter, where has the entirety of 2012 gone? Good thing I've already begun writing "2013" on all my checks to get ahead of the game.

The news is out there: the Chargers aren't very good at all this year. They're consistently ranked in the bottom 25% of the league. It's taken me a while to realize they're that bad now, but these rankings lately have really convinced me. Time to blow everything up! Let's start at the top: FIRE SAPNOS!

I still remain unconvinced about the Colts, and I still contend the same thing that happened to the 2010 Chiefs as will happen to the Colts should they make the playoffs.

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking
NFC West 13.0278
NFC South 14.6111
NFC North 14.8056
NFC East 14.8889
AFC North 15.7917
AFC East 17.8056
AFC South 18.9722
AFC West 22.0972

Stock Rising

Team Week 15 Average Week 16 Average Difference
CAR 21.477 16.851 4.626
NO 19.693 16.007 3.686
WAS 11.602 8.617 2.985
ARI 28.290 25.948 2.342
ATL 7.278 5.026 2.252

Stock Falling

Team Week 15 Average Week 16 Average Difference
NYG 5.881 9.409 -3.528
TB 16.006 19.494 -3.488
DET 21.318 24.299 -2.981
SDG 22.250 24.753 -2.503
PIT 13.773 16.058 -2.285

Bummer to see the Chargers on this list but is anyone really surprised?

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
Broncos 2 1 1 3 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1.546 0.909 Rising
49ers 1 2 3 1 2 2 1 1 3 2 2 1.818 2.182 Rising
Falcons 5 4 2 4 6 3 5 5 2 3 4 3.909 1.273 Rising
Texans 3 5 5 2 5 4 2 4 4 4 5 3.909 -1.000 Falling
Patriots 4 3 4 5 3 5 4 3 5 5 3 4.000 -3.000 Falling
Packers 6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 5.818 0.091 Rising
Seahawks 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7.000 1.818 Rising
Redskins 8 8 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8.091 3.364 Rising
Colts 9 11 12/td> 11 10 11 12 11 10 10 11 10.727 -1.000 Falling
Ravens 11 9 11 14 11 14 9 10 9 11 10 10.818 -2.272 Falling
Giants 12 15 10 12 9 13 10 9 11 9 9 10.818 -4.182 Falling
Cowboys 10 13 14 9 13 9 11 12 12 14 12 11.727 1.909 Rising
Bengals 13 10 8 10 15 10 13 13 13 13 13 11.909 2.818 Rising
Vikings 15 12 16 13 12 12 14 14 14 15 14 13.727 1.546 Rising
Bears 14 14 13 16 14 17 16 15 15 12 16 14.727 -2.454 Falling
Steelers 16 16 15 15 16 15 15 16 16 16 15 15.546 -2.000 Falling
Saints 18 17 23 17 17 18 17 17 17 17 17 17.727 1.909 Rising
Rams 17 18 18 19 18 19 19 20 20 19 18 18.636 -1.090 Falling
Dolphins 19 19 25 21 19 20 18 21 19 18 19 19.818 2.364 Rising
Buccaneers 20 21 17 20 20 24 20 19 22 20 20 20.273 -2.637 Falling
Panthers 23 20 19 18 21 16 21 22 21 21 21 20.273 4.182 Rising
Browns 22 22 24 24 22 22 26 23 18 22 23 22.546 -0.728 Falling
Jets 21 26 21 22 24 25 22 18 24 26 22 22.818 -1.636 Falling
Titans 26 24 20 23 23 21 23 29 25 27 25 24.182 2.909 Rising
Chargers 24 23 22 26 25 26 25 24 26 23 24 24.364 -2.364 Falling
Bills 25 29 26 25 27 23 24 25 23 25 26 25.273 -0.637 Falling
Cardinals 27 25 27 27 26 27 29 27 29 28 27 27.182 2.273 Rising
Lions 28 28 28 29 28 29 27 26 27 24 28 27.455 -2.819 Falling
Eagles 29 27 29 28 29 28 28 28 30 29 29 28.546 -1.455 Falling
Raiders 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 28 30 30 29.818 0.818 Rising
Jaguars 31 31 32 32 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.273 -0.182 Falling
Chiefs 32 32 31 31 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 31.727 -0.909 Falling

Observations:

  • It happened to the 49ers, Texans and Falcons: the Patriots finally became the unanimous number-1 team and subsequently lose the following week. Don't worry New England fans, you're in good company.
  • There is no unanimous pick as to who should inherit that throne. Though the Broncos are now the leading candidate.
  • You'd think the team that beat he Patriots would take over their spot at the top of the rankings, but I guess the Broncos' current 9-game win streak trumps the 49ers victory.
  • 13 teams currently have an average ranking of 12th or better. Yes, 13 teams in the top 12, heh.
  • CBS is pretty down on the Saints and Dolphins, and high on the Bengals.

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
Seahawks 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 0.000 -1.113 Falling
Redskins 8 8 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 0.288 -1.017 Falling
Jaguars 31 31 32 32 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 0.445 -0.223 Falling
Chiefs 32 32 31 31 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.445 -0.584 Falling
Steelers 16 16 15 15 16 15 15 16 16 16 15 0.498 -0.659 Falling
Packers 6 6 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 0.575 -0.218 Falling
Raiders 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 28 30 30 0.575 -0.493 Falling
49ers 1 2 3 1 2 2 1 1 3 2 2 0.716 -0.023 Falling
Eagles 29 27 29 28 29 28 28 28 30 29 29 0.782 -0.011 Falling
Broncos 2 1 1 3 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 0.782 0.284 Rising
Patriots 4 3 4 5 3 5 4 3 5 5 3 0.853 0.853 Rising
Colts 9 11 12 11 10 11 12 11 10 10 11 0.862 0.245 Rising
Rams 17 18 18 19 18 19 19 20 20 19 18 0.881 0.225 Rising
Texans 3 5 5 2 5 4 2 4 4 4 5 1.083 0.087 Rising
Cardinals 27 25 27 27 26 27 29 27 29 28 27 1.113 0.222 Rising
Falcons 5 4 2 4 6 3 5 5 2 3 4 1.240 0.304 Rising
Vikings 15 12 16 13 12 12 14 14 14 15 14 1.286 0.234 Rising
Chargers 24 23 22 26 25 26 25 24 26 23 24 1.298 -0.050 Falling
Lions 28 28 28 29 28 29 27 26 27 24 28 1.373 -0.238 Falling
Bears 14 14 13 16 14 17 16 15 15 12 16 1.420 0.000 No Change
Buccaneers 20 21 17 20 20 24 20 19 22 20 20 1.656 0.885 Rising
Bills 25 29 26 25 27 23 24 25 23 25 26 1.656 -0.064 Falling
Ravens 11 9 11 14 11 14 9 10 9 11 10 1.696 1.040 Rising
Saints 18 17 23 17 17 18 17 17 17 17 17 1.710 0.484 Rising
Cowboys 10 13 14 9 13 9 11 12 12 14 12 1.710 0.484 Rising
Panthers 23 20 19 18 21 16 21 22 21 21 21 1.863 -0.154 Falling
Browns 22 22 24 24 22 22 26 23 18 22 23 1.876 -0.332 Falling
Dolphins 19 19 25 21 19 20 18 21 19 18 19 1.898 0.202 Rising
Giants 12 15 10 12 9 13 10 9 11 9 9 1.898 1.017 Rising
Bengals 13 10 8 10 15 10 13 13 13 13 13 1.975 0.923 Rising
Jets 21 26 21 22 24 25 22 18 24 26 22 2.328 -0.115 Falling
Titans 26 24 20 23 23 21 23 29 25 27 25 2.480 1.169 Rising

Observations:

  • Oh neat, the Seahawks are a unanimous ... 7th.
  • Redskins would have been a unanimous 8th, but CBS had to throw a wrench in it.
  • Jaguars and Chiefs are bad again, Steelers consistently mediocre.
  • Packers almost unanimous at #6, but this time it's SI messing it up.
  • Though the Bears moved down ~2.5 spots, they did so in unison; their deviation is the same as last week.
  • Both teams from New York are in the bottom 4 on this list.

Objective Average

Objective
Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs Pro Football Reference Cold Hard Football Facts Average Change since last period
49ers 4 2 2 2 3 2 2 2.429 0.196 Rising
Broncos 3 1 1 3 9 4 1 3.143 0.732 Rising
Patriots 1 7 3 1 5 1 7 3.571 -0.821 Falling
Seahawks 2 3 6 5 4 3 3 3.714 0.411 Rising
Texans 10 5 4 4 7 8 4 6.000 -1.250 Falling
Falcons 12 6 7 6 1 5 6 6.143 3.232 Rising
Packers 5 9 5 7 6 9 5 6.571 1.179 Rising
Giants 8 10 9 8 2 6 13 8.000 -2.875 Falling
Redskins 9 8 8 10 10 10 9 9.143 2.607 Rising
Bears 6 17 13 9 8 7 8 9.714 -0.464 Falling
Bengals 7 12 14 13 18 13 12 12.714 0.661 Rising
Panthers 11 4 18 17 14 16 14 13.429 5.071 Rising
Ravens 13 21 17 11 11 11 11 13.571 -1.321 Falling
Saints 14 15 15 14 15 12 15 14.286 5.464 Rising
Cowboys 17 16 11 15 12 15 18 14.857 0.768 Rising
Steelers 15 13 21 19 20 18 10 16.571 -2.571 Falling
Rams 18 11 16 18 22 19 17 17.286 -1.536 Falling
Vikings 23 27 10 12 17 14 22 17.857 2.143 Rising
Buccaneers 21 20 22 16 16 17 19 18.714 -4.339 Falling
Dolphins 20 18 19 20 26 20 16 19.857 1.018 Rising
Lions 16 14 27 23 25 22 21 21.143 -3.143 Falling
Colts 26 25 12 21 13 26 28 21.571 0.304 Rising
Jets 25 19 20 22 21 24 24 22.143 -1.268 Falling
Browns 19 23 23 27 28 25 23 24.000 -2.250 Falling
Bills 22 22 26 26 23 27 26 24.571 -1.446 Falling
Cardinals 27 30 25 24 24 23 20 24.714 2.411 Rising
Chargers 24 24 28 25 29 21 25 25.143 -2.643 Falling
Titans 28 29 24 28 19 29 27 26.286 1.089 Rising
Eagles 29 26 29 29 27 28 29 28.143 -0.893 Falling
Raiders 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 29.714 0.536 Rising
Jaguars 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31.143 -0.643 Falling
Chiefs 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 31.857 -0.357 Falling

Observations:

  • Once again, the 49ers are atop this list even though not a single objective site ranks them as #1.
  • Team Efficiency is keeping their position of extremely bullish on the Panthers. Though the other sites are starting to catch on as Carolina has risen an average of 5 spots this week.
  • I'm surprised the Ravens didn't drop more, they looked pretty flat against Denver.
  • 8 of the top 12 teams are in the NFC.
  • 9 of the bottom 12 teams are in the AFC (10 of the bottom 13).

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective
Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs Pro Football Reference Cold Hard Football Facts Standard Deviation Change since last period
Jaguars 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 0.350 -0.516 Falling
Chiefs 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 0.350 -0.357 Falling
Raiders 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 0.700 -0.268 Falling
49ers 4 2 2 2 3 2 2 0.728 -0.129 Falling
Redskins 9 8 8 10 10 10 9 0.833 -1.213 Falling
Saints 14 15 15 14 15 12 15 1.030 -0.531 Falling
Eagles 29 26 29 29 27 28 29 1.125 -0.354 Falling
Seahawks 2 3 6 5 4 3 3 1.278 -0.258 Falling
Packers 5 9 5 7 6 9 5 1.678 -1.270 Falling
Bills 22 22 26 26 23 27 26 1.990 -1.699 Falling
Jets 25 19 20 22 21 24 24 2.100 -3.522 Falling
Texans 10 5 4 4 7 8 4 2.204 0.350 Rising
Buccaneers 21 20 22 16 16 17 19 2.250 -2.164 Falling
Cowboys 17 16 11 15 12 15 18 2.356 0.238 Rising
Chargers 24 24 28 25 29 21 25 2.474 -0.354 Falling
Patriots 1 7 3 1 5 1 7 2.556 0.278 Rising
Broncos 3 1 1 3 9 4 1 2.642 -0.024 Falling
Browns 19 23 23 27 28 25 23 2.778 -0.039 Falling
Dolphins 20 18 19 20 26 20 16 2.850 0.482 Rising
Cardinals 27 30 25 24 24 23 20 2.914 0.654 Rising
Falcons 12 6 7 6 1 5 6 2.997 0.821 Rising
Bengals 7 12 14 13 18 13 12 3.010 -0.488 Falling
Rams 18 11 16 18 22 19 17 3.104 -0.761 Falling
Giants 8 10 9 8 2 6 13 3.162 1.074 Rising
Titans 28 29 24 28 19 29 27 3.369 1.193 Rising
Bears 6 17 13 9 8 7 8 3.614 0.017 Rising
Ravens 13 21 17 11 11 11 11 3.659 -0.457 Falling
Steelers/a> 15 13 21 19 20 18 10 3.736 0.864 Rising
Lions 16 14 27 23 25 22 21 4.324 -0.896 Falling
Panthers 11 4 18 17 14 16 14 4.403 -3.423 Falling
Vikings 23 27 10 12 17 14 22 5.841 1.779 Rising
Colts 26 25 12 21 13 26 28 6.068 -0.648 Falling

Observations:

  • Jaguars, Chiefs and Raiders: terrible across the board
  • Colts still lacking consistency, though it's slightly better.
  • Panthers' consistency is improving. Maybe Team Efficiency isn't so crazy in the end?
  • Pretty good agreement that the Chargers aren't great.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Average Change since last period
49ers 1.818 2.429 2.123 1.190 Rising
Broncos 1.546 3.143 2.344 0.821 Rising
Patriots 4.000 3.571 3.786 -1.911 Falling
Texans 3.909 6.000 4.955 -1.125 Falling
Falcons 3.909 6.143 5.026 2.252 Rising
Seahawks 7.000 3.714 5.357 1.115 Rising
Packers 5.818 6.571 6.195 0.635 Rising
Redskins 8.091 9.143 8.617 2.985 Rising
Giants 10.818 8.000 9.409 -3.528 Falling
Ravens 10.818 13.571 12.195 -1.797 Falling
Bears 14.727 9.714 12.221 -1.460 Falling
Bengals 11.909 12.714 12.312 1.739 Rising
Cowboys 11.727 14.857 13.292 1.339 Rising
Vikings 13.727 17.857 15.792 1.844 Rising
Saints 17.727 14.286 16.007 3.686 Rising
Steelers 15.546 16.571 16.058 -2.285 Falling
Colts 10.727 21.571 16.149 -0.348 Falling
Panthers 20.273 13.429 16.851 4.626 Rising
Rams 18.636 17.286 17.961 -1.313 Falling
Buccaneers 20.273 18.714 19.494 -3.488 Falling
Dolphins 19.818 19.857 19.838 1.690 Rising
Jets 22.818 22.143 22.481 -1.453 Falling
Browns 22.546 24.000 23.273 -1.489 Falling
Lions 27.455 21.143 24.299 -2.981 Falling
Chargers 24.364 25.143 24.753 -2.503 Falling
Bills 25.273 24.571 24.922 -1.041 Falling
Titans 24.182 26.286 25.234 1.999 Rising
Cardinals 27.182 24.714 25.948 2.342 Rising
Eagles 28.546 28.143 28.344 -1.174 Falling
Raiders 29.818 29.714 29.766 0.677 Rising
Jaguars 31.273 31.143 31.208 -0.413 Falling
Chiefs 31.727 31.857 31.792 -0.633 Falling

Observations:

  • 49ers still the top dog overall, though the Broncos are nipping at their heels.
  • Texans beat the Colts and still drop overall, interesting.
  • Redskins are surging quite nicely. The NFC East is a pretty fun race to watch this year.
  • Panthers also surging.
  • Giants were absolutely embarrassed this week, and their rankings reflect it appropriately.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Standard Deviation Change since last period
Chiefs 31.727 31.857 0.416 -0.552 Falling
Jaguars 31.273 31.143 0.416 -0.396 Falling
Raiders 29.818 29.714 0.629 -0.416 Falling
Redskins 8.091 9.143 0.764 -0.900 Falling
49ers 1.818 2.429 0.780 -0.262 Falling
Eagles 28.546 28.143 0.951 -0.185 Falling
Packers 5.818 6.571 1.197 -1.005 Falling
Patriots 4.000 3.571 1.740 0.028 Rising
Seahawks 7.000 3.714 1.789 -0.872 Falling
Bills 25.273 24.571 1.826 -1.002 Falling
Chargers 24.364 25.143 1.886 -0.231 Falling
Texans 3.909 6.000 1.909 0.221 Rising
Broncos 1.546 3.143 1.922 0.017 Rising
Buccaneers 20.273 18.714 2.055 -1.283 Falling
Rams 18.636 17.286 2.157 -0.549 Falling
Saints 17.727 14.286 2.240 0.861 Rising
Jets 22.818 22.143 2.266 -1.831 Falling
Dolphins 19.818 19.857 2.315 0.207 Rising
Cardinals 27.182 24.714 2.347 0.364 Rising
Falcons 3.909 6.143 2.370 -0.235 Falling
Browns 22.546 24.000 2.378 -0.105 Falling
Steelers 15.546 16.571 2.415 0.342 Rising
Bengals 11.909 12.714 2.462 -0.036 Falling
Cowboys 11.727 14.857 2.505 0.575 Rising
Giants 10.818 8.000 2.825 1.139 Rising
Ravens 10.818 13.571 2.961 -0.314 Falling
Titans 24.182 26.286 3.037 1.303 Rising
Bears 14.727 9.714 3.505 0.531 Rising
Lions 27.455 21.143 4.230 -0.640 Falling
Vikings 13.727 17.857 4.282 0.671 Rising
Panthers 20.273 13.429 4.560 -1.505 Falling
Colts 10.727 21.571 6.536 -0.893 Falling

Observations:

  • Yep, the Redskins are consistently that good.
  • 18 green arrows, 14 red arrows. Slowly becoming more consistent overall.
  • Again, no surprise the Colts are at the bottom of this list again this week.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Standard Deviation Change since last period
Colts 10.727 21.571 10.844 -1.304 Rising
Vikings 13.727 17.857 4.130 -0.597 Rising
Cowboys 11.727 14.857 3.130 1.141 Rising
Ravens 10.818 13.571 2.753 -0.952 Rising
Falcons 3.909 6.143 2.234 -1.959 Rising
Titans 24.182 26.286 2.104 1.820 Rising
Texans 3.909 6.000 2.091 0.250 Rising
Broncos 1.546 3.143 1.597 0.176 Rising
Browns 22.546 24.000 1.455 1.523 Rising
Redskins 8.091 9.143 1.052 0.756 Rising
Steelers 15.546 16.571 1.026 0.571 Rising
Bengals 11.909 12.714 0.805 2.157 Rising
Chargers 24.364 25.143 0.779 0.279 Rising
Packers 5.818 6.571 0.753 -1.088 Rising
49ers 1.818 2.429 0.610 1.985 Rising
Chiefs 31.727 31.857 0.130 -0.552 Rising
Dolphins 19.818 19.857 0.039 1.346 Rising
Raiders 29.818 29.714 -0.104 0.282 Rising
Jaguars 31.273 31.143 -0.130 0.461 Rising
Eagles 28.546 28.143 -0.403 -0.562 Rising
Patriots 4.000 3.571 -0.429 -2.179 Rising
Jets 22.818 22.143 -0.675 -0.368 Rising
Bills 25.273 24.571 -0.701 0.810 Rising
Rams 18.636 17.286 -1.351 0.445 Rising
Buccaneers 20.273 18.714 -1.558 1.703 Rising
Cardinals 27.182 24.714 -2.468 -0.138 Rising
Giants 10.818 8.000 -2.818 -1.307 Rising
Seahawks 7.000 3.714 -3.286 1.407 Rising
Saints 17.727 14.286 -3.442 -3.556 Rising
Bears 14.727 9.714 -5.013 -1.990 Rising
Lions 27.455 21.143 -6.312 0.324 Rising
Panthers 20.273 13.429 -6.844 -0.889 Rising

Observations:

  • Colts still grossly overrated. Though it got slightly better this week (10.7% improvement).
  • Holy cow. All of the 9 most under-ranked teams are in the NFC. Is this on purpose?
  • Even though it was unanimous on the subjective side, the Seahawks at #7 are about 50% under-ranked.
  • Panthers are being slept on now.

Sources