2013 NFL Power Rankings Consensus, Week 8

The San Diego Chargers have won 2 games in a row now, and as they head into their bye week, they've climbed the rankings significantly the last few weeks.

I was having a conversation on Twitter with a few Chargers fans about how the game against the Jaguars was sadly a statement game for the Chargers. So far this season, they've made a habit of playing to their competition, both up and down. So forgive me in feeling a bit relieved that the Chargers didn't get dominated by a terrible Jacksonville team much the same way Oakland manhandled them.

Apparently, I'm not the only one that agrees with that sentiment. The Indianapolis Colts came into Qualcomm Stadium as heavy favorites to beat the Chargers. The Chargers won the game and climbed 5.275 spots overall in the rankings. The Chargers flew into Florida as heavy favorites and handled the Jacksonville Jaguars with ease; they still climbed another 4 spots.

Notable Quotes

Believe it or not, Ryan Mathews is the only player this season to rush for 100 yards in consecutive games.

The Chargers had the ball for 37 minutes and change during their win over the Jaguars, something that has become a trend. San Diego currently has the longest average drive time in the NFL, at 3 minutes and 14 seconds per possession.

A methodical win over Jacksonville that featured a more balanced offensive plan to support Rivers’ impressive accuracy takes San Diego into their bye on a two-game run and a three-spot jump.

Division Averages

Stock Rising

Stock Falling

Subjective Average

	Subjective
Chiefs	1	1	1	3	2	1	1	1	1	1	2	4		1.583		1.000
Seahawks	4	2	2	1	1	2	4	2	2	2	1	2		2.083		1.084
Broncos	3	3	4	2	4	4	2	3	5	3	3	1		3.083		-2.083
Saints	5	5	3	5	3	5	3	4	4	5	4	3		4.083		-0.083
Colts	2	4	7	4	5	3	5	5	3	4	5	7		4.500		2.667
49ers	6	6	5	6	6	6	6	6	7	6	6	6		6.000		0.583
Bengals	7	8	6	8	7	8	7	7	6	9	8	8		7.417		1.666
Packers	9	7	9	7	8	7	9	8	8	7	7	5		7.583		0.167
Patriots	8	9	8	9	9	9	8	9	9	8	9	9		8.667		-4.084
Cowboys	10	10	10	10	10	10	12	10	10	10	10	10		10.167		2.500
Lions	11	12	11	11	13	12	10	11	14	11	12	11		11.583		-0.916
Chargers	12	11	15	18	11	11	11	13	11	12	11	12		12.333		3.917
Bears	13	13	12	15	15	15	13	12	12	13	14	14		13.417		-3.334
Jets	15	14	13	14	12	13	15	14	16	15	13	19		14.417		5.750
Ravens	14	17	16	13	16	14	17	16	13	14	15	13		14.833		-2.166
Panthers	18	22	14	12	14	17	14	19	20	18	16	16		16.667		5.583
Dolphins	16	18	27	19	17	16	16	15	18	16	17	15		17.500		-4.083
Titans	17	15	19	16	18	21	18	21	15	17	22	17		18.000		-1.500
Eagles	19	21	17	20	23	18	19	17	19	20	20	24		19.750		-3.167
Bills	21	16	24	17	21	20	21	18	21	19	18	23		19.917		5.166
Falcons	20	23	22	24	19	23	24	23	17	22	21	18		21.333		1.750
Steelers	25	20	23	22	22	24	28	22	23	27	19	20		22.917		3.333
Browns	22	25	26	26	26	19	20	20	24	23	25	22		23.167		-3.667
Redskins	23	24	25	21	20	25	27	24	22	25	23	25		23.667		4.083
Texans	26	19	20	25	29	28	23	25	25	24	27	21		24.333		-2.583
Cardinals	24	26	21	23	25	26	26	27	26	21	24	26		24.583		-3.500
Rams	27	27	18	28	24	27	22	28	27	26	26	29		25.750		-6.250
Raiders	28	28	29	27	27	22	25	26	29	28	28	28		27.083		-1.166
Giants	29	29	28	29	28	29	29	29	28	29	29	27		28.583		2.000
Vikings	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30		30.000		-2.083
Buccaneers	31	32	31	31	31	31	31	31	32	31	31	31		31.167		-0.417
Jaguars	32	31	32	32	32	32	32	32	31	32	32	32		31.833		-0.166

Observations:

• Denver finally lost their first game. Naturally that means they can't be number 1 anymore, right? Overall, yes.
• The Chiefs remain the sole undefeated team left in the league. Naturally that means they're number 1 now, right? Nope. Some sites have put the Chiefs first, but it's far from unanimous.
• Um ... wow ... the Chargers have quietly cracked the top-12 in many rankings. In fact, the Chargers are ranked 12th overall. That puts them in the "Playoff Caliber" zone.
• Jets jumped the most subjectively this week, by almost 6 spots overall. Panthers and Bills weren't too far behind.
• CBS apparently didn't get the memo about Sam Bradford

Subjective Standard Deviation

	Subjective
Vikings	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30		0.000		-1.320
Buccaneers	31	32	31	31	31	31	31	31	32	31	31	31		0.373		-0.349
Jaguars	32	31	32	32	32	32	32	32	31	32	32	32		0.373		-0.251
49ers	6	6	5	6	6	6	6	6	7	6	6	6		0.408		-0.351
Patriots	8	9	8	9	9	9	8	9	9	8	9	9		0.471		-0.483
Cowboys	10	10	10	10	10	10	12	10	10	10	10	10		0.553		-0.938
Giants	29	29	28	29	28	29	29	29	28	29	29	27		0.640		0.000
Saints	5	5	3	5	3	5	3	4	4	5	4	3		0.862		-0.218
Bengals	7	8	6	8	7	8	7	7	6	9	8	8		0.862		-0.743
Seahawks	4	2	2	1	1	2	4	2	2	2	1	2		0.954		0.056
Chiefs	1	1	1	3	2	1	1	1	1	1	2	4		0.954		0.000
Broncos	3	3	4	2	4	4	2	3	5	3	3	1		1.038		1.038
Lions	11	12	11	11	13	12	10	11	14	11	12	11		1.038		-0.336
Bears	13	13	12	15	15	15	13	12	12	13	14	14		1.115		0.356
Packers	9	7	9	7	8	7	9	8	8	7	7	5		1.115		-0.247
Colts	2	4	7	4	5	3	5	5	3	4	5	7		1.443		-0.232
Ravens	14	17	16	13	16	14	17	16	13	14	15	13		1.463		0.216
Jets	15	14	13	14	12	13	15	14	16	15	13	19		1.754		-0.621
Redskins	23	24	25	21	20	25	27	24	22	25	23	25		1.886		1.057
Raiders	28	28	29	27	27	22	25	26	29	28	28	28		1.891		-0.209
Cardinals	24	26	21	23	25	26	26	27	26	21	24	26		1.935		0.134
Eagles	19	21	17	20	23	18	19	17	19	20	20	24		2.046		0.605
Chargers	12	11	15	18	11	11	11	13	11	12	11	12		2.055		-0.148
Titans	17	15	19	16	18	21	18	21	15	17	22	17		2.236		0.913
Falcons	20	23	22	24	19	23	24	23	17	22	21	18		2.249		-0.473
Bills	21	16	24	17	21	20	21	18	21	19	18	23		2.290		0.685
Browns	22	25	26	26	26	19	20	20	24	23	25	22		2.444		0.465
Steelers	25	20	23	22	22	24	28	22	23	27	19	20		2.629		0.709
Panthers	18	22	14	12	14	17	14	19	20	18	16	16		2.779		0.816
Rams	27	27	18	28	24	27	22	28	27	26	26	29		2.948		-0.066
Texans	26	19	20	25	29	28	23	25	25	24	27	21		2.981		-0.158
Dolphins	16	18	27	19	17	16	16	15	18	16	17	15		3.096		2.234

Observations:

• One unanimous ranking this week in the subjective list, and it's the Vikings at 30th.
• Two sites have the Buccaneers at 32nd, and Jags at 31st. Frankly I think the Buccaneers win a head-to-head matchup each time.
• All but one site had the Cowboys a unanimous 10th.
• Again, take out one site — in this case it's USA TODAY — and the Chargers are one of the more consistent teams.
• Oh wow does CBS hate Miami.

Objective Average

	Objective
Seahawks	2	1	1	3	4	3	2	1	1		2.000		0.900
Broncos	1	2	3	2	6	4	1	6	2		3.000		-1.200
Chiefs	4	8	2	8	8	1	5	2	3		4.556		-0.356
Colts	3	5	5	9	3	5	3	3	7		4.778		1.222
Saints	7	10	8	1	1	6	6	4	6		5.444		-1.444
Packers	5	6	6	4	7	8	7	7	5		6.111		1.789
49ers	10	3	4	5	5	13	4	9	4		6.333		1.867
Cowboys	9	11	9	7	11	11	9	8	8		9.222		2.978
Panthers	6	12	13	12	15	2	8	5	13		9.556		2.044
Bengals	11	4	7	10	18	14	12	10	9		10.556		0.844
Chargers	13	9	10	15	10	12	10	13	11		11.444		4.056
Lions	14	15	11	13	12	7	11	12	12		11.889		-1.989
Patriots	12	22	12	6	19	9	14	11	10		12.778		-2.178
Bears	8	18	17	14	22	10	20	15	16		15.556		-2.156
Ravens	23	27	16	11	13	15	15	17	14		16.778		-2.578
Dolphins	22	26	25	16	2	16	16	19	15		17.444		-2.844
Eagles	20	7	20	20	14	18	19	20	19		17.444		-2.744
Titans	21	17	14	18	26	20	13	14	18		17.889		-0.189
Cardinals	19	21	15	19	9	23	17	26	17		18.444		-1.444
Bills	17	23	19	21	32	17	21	18	20		20.889		1.911
Falcons	15	24	28	17	20	25	22	16	27		21.556		0.344
Redskins	29	25	18	24	17	19	24	21	22		22.111		2.289
Jets	16	14	24	27	30	21	28	22	23		22.778		2.422
Browns	25	20	22	25	16	27	25	23	24		23.000		-3.200
Texans	30	13	27	23	25	28	26	25	25		24.667		0.733
Steelers	18	19	26	22	29	29	27	24	28		24.667		1.733
Raiders	28	28	21	31	21	26	18	27	26		25.111		0.189
Rams	26	31	23	26	23	24	23	30	21		25.222		-1.822
Giants	31	16	29	28	24	31	30	31	29		27.667		1.033
Buccaneers	24	32	31	30	31	22	29	28	31		28.667		-1.067
Vikings	27	30	30	29	28	30	31	29	30		29.333		-1.533
Jaguars	32	29	32	32	27	32	32	32	32		31.111		0.389

Observations:

• Seahawks dethrone the Broncos this week.
• NFC edges out the AFC in the top 12 by a 7-to-5 margin.
• Chargers are in the top-12 objectively as well
• Though they lost yet again this week, Jacksonville's objective ranking rose slightly.
• Dolphins range from 2nd to 26th.

Objective Standard Deviation

	Objective
Seahawks	2	1	1	3	4	3	2	1	1		1.054		-0.760
Vikings	27	30	30	29	28	30	31	29	30		1.155		0.078
Packers	5	6	6	4	7	8	7	7	5		1.197		-2.739
Cowboys	9	11	9	7	11	11	9	8	8		1.397		-1.316
Jaguars	32	29	32	32	27	32	32	32	32		1.729		0.525
Broncos	1	2	3	2	6	4	1	6	2		1.826		0.356
Chargers	13	9	10	15	10	12	10	13	11		1.833		-3.030
Colts	3	5	5	9	3	5	3	3	7		1.988		-0.378
Lions	14	15	11	13	12	7	11	12	12		2.132		-0.211
Chiefs	4	8	2	8	8	1	5	2	3		2.671		-0.005
Saints	7	10	8	1	1	6	6	4	6		2.833		1.044
Browns	25	20	22	25	16	27	25	23	24		3.127		0.414
Rams	26	31	23	26	23	24	23	30	21		3.190		-0.557
49ers	10	3	4	5	5	13	4	9	4		3.266		0.744
Buccaneers	24	32	31	30	31	22	29	28	31		3.266		-0.373
Redskins	29	25	18	24	17	19	24	21	22		3.604		1.146
Bengals	11	4	7	10	18	14	12	10	9		3.775		0.670
Titans	21	17	14	18	26	20	13	14	18		3.871		-0.080
Steelers	18	19	26	22	29	29	27	24	28		3.944		0.197
Raiders	28	28	21	31	21	26	18	27	26		3.957		0.520
Eagles	20	7	20	20	14	18	19	20	19		4.113		-0.684
Panthers	6	12	13	12	15	2	8	5	13		4.193		-1.196
Bears	8	18	17	14	22	10	20	15	16		4.219		0.019
Bills	17	23	19	21	32	17	21	18	20		4.358		-0.854
Texans	30	13	27	23	25	28	26	25	25		4.546		1.710
Falcons	15	24	28	17	20	25	22	16	27		4.549		1.072
Cardinals	19	21	15	19	9	23	17	26	17		4.597		1.499
Giants	31	16	29	28	24	31	30	31	29		4.619		0.213
Patriots	12	22	12	6	19	9	14	11	10		4.685		-0.958
Ravens	23	27	16	11	13	15	15	17	14		4.779		-1.806
Jets	16	14	24	27	30	21	28	22	23		5.006		0.516
Dolphins	22	26	25	16	2	16	16	19	15		6.702		0.816

Observations:

• Top 4 most consistent teams are in the NFC. Next 4 are in the AFC (Chargers included)
• There are clusters of conference teams together, interesting. What does it mean? Probably nothing.
• Did you see the Patriots/Jets game? My how New England has fallen. Now I'm thinking about them having high draft picks this year ... *gulp*
• Two sites are low on the Ravens while others are high on them. The inverse is true with the Jets and those same two sites.

Overall Average

	Subj vs Obj
Seahawks	2.083	2.000		2.042		0.991
Broncos	3.083	3.000		3.042		-1.642
Chiefs	1.583	4.556		3.069		0.323
Colts	4.500	4.778		4.639		1.944
Saints	4.083	5.444		4.764		-0.764
49ers	6.000	6.333		6.167		1.225
Packers	7.583	6.111		6.847		0.978
Bengals	7.417	10.556		8.986		1.256
Cowboys	10.167	9.222		9.694		2.739
Patriots	8.667	12.778		10.722		-3.130
Lions	11.583	11.889		11.736		-1.453
Chargers	12.333	11.444		11.889		3.986
Panthers	16.667	9.556		13.111		3.814
Bears	13.417	15.556		14.486		-2.744
Ravens	14.833	16.778		15.806		-2.373
Dolphins	17.500	17.444		17.472		-3.464
Titans	18.000	17.889		17.944		-0.844
Jets	14.417	22.778		18.597		4.086
Eagles	19.750	17.444		18.597		-2.955
Bills	19.917	20.889		20.403		3.539
Falcons	21.333	21.556		21.444		1.048
Cardinals	24.583	18.444		21.514		-2.472
Redskins	23.667	22.111		22.889		3.186
Browns	23.167	23.000		23.083		-3.433
Steelers	22.917	24.667		23.792		2.533
Texans	24.333	24.667		24.500		-0.925
Rams	25.750	25.222		25.486		-4.036
Raiders	27.083	25.111		26.097		-0.489
Giants	28.583	27.667		28.125		1.517
Vikings	30.000	29.333		29.667		-1.809
Buccaneers	31.167	28.667		29.917		-0.742
Jaguars	31.833	31.111		31.472		0.111

Observations:

• Overall, the Seahawks are the new team atop the throne.
• Broncos are still above the Chiefs and Colts.
• Chargers are above 12th overall. This surprises even me.
• Colts rose more than Broncos dropped.
• 3 of 4 AFC East teams are evenly spaced apart with one team between each.

Overall Standard Deviation

	Subj vs Obj
Vikings	30.000	29.333		0.825		-0.392
Seahawks	2.083	2.000		0.999		-0.398
Cowboys	10.167	9.222		1.109		-1.039
Jaguars	31.833	31.111		1.220		0.283
Packers	7.583	6.111		1.362		-1.477
Broncos	3.083	3.000		1.430		0.362
Lions	11.583	11.889		1.608		-0.308
Colts	4.500	4.778		1.704		-0.397
Chargers	12.333	11.444		2.011		-1.668
Saints	4.083	5.444		2.078		0.632
49ers	6.000	6.333		2.167		0.204
Chiefs	1.583	4.556		2.396		0.299
Buccaneers	31.167	28.667		2.486		-0.474
Browns	23.167	23.000		2.759		0.413
Redskins	23.667	22.111		2.862		0.432
Bengals	7.417	10.556		2.991		0.323
Titans	18.000	17.889		3.047		0.147
Rams	25.750	25.222		3.065		-0.822
Bears	13.417	15.556		3.076		-0.250
Giants	28.583	27.667		3.096		-0.055
Raiders	27.083	25.111		3.115		0.310
Eagles	19.750	17.444		3.308		-0.223
Steelers	22.917	24.667		3.371		0.473
Bills	19.917	20.889		3.371		-0.508
Falcons	21.333	21.556		3.431		0.287
Ravens	14.833	16.778		3.455		-1.143
Patriots	8.667	12.778		3.698		-1.195
Texans	24.333	24.667		3.737		0.225
Cardinals	24.583	18.444		4.520		1.316
Panthers	16.667	9.556		4.933		-1.657
Dolphins	17.500	17.444		4.973		0.911
Jets	14.417	22.778		5.442		1.138

Observations:

• The Vikings retain their crown as the most consistently ranked team, at 3rd-worst. Having watched the game on Monday against the Giants ... yeah, no argument here
• Cowboys very consistent at about a 10-spot.
• Chargers ranking consistency improved greatly this week.
• Dolphins are the second-least consistent team in ranking, yet the difference between their Objective and Subjective averages is only .056 spots.
• 7 of the 10 least consistently-ranked teams are AFC teams.

Difference in Averages

	Subj vs Obj
Jets	14.417	22.778		8.361		3.328
Patriots	8.667	12.778		4.111		-1.906
Bengals	7.417	10.556		3.139		0.822
Chiefs	1.583	4.556		2.972		1.355
Bears	13.417	15.556		2.139		-1.178
Ravens	14.833	16.778		1.945		0.412
Steelers	22.917	24.667		1.750		1.600
Saints	4.083	5.444		1.361		1.361
Bills	19.917	20.889		0.972		3.255
Texans	24.333	24.667		0.333		-3.317
49ers	6.000	6.333		0.333		-1.284
Lions	11.583	11.889		0.306		1.073
Colts	4.500	4.778		0.278		1.445
Falcons	21.333	21.556		0.222		1.405
Dolphins	17.500	17.444		-0.056		-1.239
Broncos	3.083	3.000		-0.083		-0.883
Seahawks	2.083	2.000		-0.083		0.184
Titans	18.000	17.889		-0.111		-1.311
Browns	23.167	23.000		-0.167		-0.467
Rams	25.750	25.222		-0.528		-4.428
Vikings	30.000	29.333		-0.667		-0.550
Jaguars	31.833	31.111		-0.722		-0.555
Chargers	12.333	11.444		-0.889		-0.139
Giants	28.583	27.667		-0.917		0.966
Cowboys	10.167	9.222		-0.945		-0.478
Packers	7.583	6.111		-1.472		-1.622
Redskins	23.667	22.111		-1.556		1.794
Raiders	27.083	25.111		-1.972		-1.355
Eagles	19.750	17.444		-2.306		-0.423
Buccaneers	31.167	28.667		-2.500		0.650
Cardinals	24.583	18.444		-6.139		-2.056
Panthers	16.667	9.556		-7.111		3.539

Observations:

• Jets beat the Patriots and they shoot up the board, perhaps a bit too fast.
• 8 of the 10 most "over-ranked" teams are in the AFC.
• 8 of the 10 most "under-ranked" teams are in the NFC.
• Chargers are ever so slightly "under-ranked".
• The Panthers remain the most "under-ranked" team but it's improving in the right direction!

Sources

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

About the Author

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