SB Nation

John Crean | December 11, 2013

2013 NFL Power Rankings Consensus, Week 15

Chargers Earn Little Respect

Despite a blowout win against a top-10 defense, many pundits were unimpressed with San Diego's performance against the New York Giants.

I'm going to spoil things a little right off the bat. The Chargers effectively didn't move at all this week in the Subjective rankings. They moved up 2.500 spots in the Objective rankings. Why the disparity? Frankly, who cares about the Chargers this year?

As soon as pundits feel they have San Diego "figured out," they go and lose to an opponent they were supposed to beat, or beat an opponent they had no chance in beating. We've covered before that this perception of the Chargers being "inconsistent" is a fallacy. But I think the pundits have been burned enough times this season that they aren't willing to give the Chargers the benefit of the doubt.

Notable Quotes

Ryan Mathews quietly is having perhaps his best season: 885 yards on 207 carries (4.3 average).

The AFC West's 'third' team has stayed in the hunt and gets one last shot at each division mate to end the year, starting with Denver on Thursday Night in Week 15. One game out of the wild card, the Chargers will need to show well to press for the final playoff spot.

If the Chargers played against the rest of the league like they played against the Giants, the playoff picture would be a lot different. Fan involvement, a good showing by the defense, and a fantastic offensive performance shows a lot of promise for the future of this team. If the Chargers manage to sneak into the playoffs, the only hope of the Charger faithful is that the team that played this week shows up.

Division Averages

Division Week 15 Average Week 14 Average Difference
NFC West 9.1750 8.8571 -0.3179
AFC West 13.4750 13.7262 0.2512
NFC South 14.5250 14.7500 0.225
AFC North 17.1750 17.6548 0.4798
AFC East 17.3625 17.9286 0.5661
NFC North 18.1250 18.6548 0.5298
NFC East 19.4875 17.9643 -1.5232
AFC South 22.6750 22.4643 -0.2107

Stock Rising

Team Week 14 Average Week 15 Average Difference
CHI 16.668 13.712 2.956
NYJ 26.645 23.833 2.812
TB 23.636 21.354 2.282
JAX 29.459 27.283 2.176
MIA 15.359 13.758 1.601

Stock Falling

Team Week 14 Average Week 15 Average Difference
DAL 12.723 16.222 -3.499
STL 17.618 20.162 -2.544
NYG 20.132 22.424 -2.292
CAR 3.086 5.212 -2.126
BUF 24.636 26.429 -1.793

Subjective Average

Subjective
ESPN Fox CBS USA Today Sports Illustrated ProFootballTalk NFL.com SB Nation Reddit Associated Press ProFootballFocus Average Change since last period
Seahawks 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1.455 -0.455 Falling
Broncos 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1.636 0.910 Rising
Saints 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3.273 1.545 Rising
Patriots 4 4 2 5 5 3 4 5 4 4 4 4.000 -0.454 Falling
49ers 5 6 6 4 3 7 7 4 6 5 5 5.273 1.091 Rising
Panthers 6 5 8 7 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 6.091 -2.818 Falling
Chiefs 7 8 7 6 9 8 5 8 7 7 7 7.182 0.091 Rising
Bengals 8 7 5 8 8 5 8 7 8 8 8 7.273 0.182 Rising
Eagles 9 9 9 9 7 9 9 11 9 9 9 9.000 1.182 Rising
Cardinals 10 10 10 10 14 10 10 9 10 11 10 10.364 1.727 Rising
Colts 11 13 11 12 12 14 12 12 11 10 14 12.000 -1.454 Falling
Lions 12 11 12 11 16 18 13 10 12 14 12 12.818 -2.091 Falling
Bears 13 14 14 15 11 12 14 15 13 12 11 13.091 3.545 Rising
Ravens 14 12 13 13 13 11 15 14 14 13 13 13.182 0.636 Rising
Dolphins 16 15 16 14 10 16 11 13 15 15 15 14.182 1.636 Rising
Cowboys 15 16 17 16 17 13 16 17 17 16 16 16.000 -4.454 Falling
Chargers 17 17 15 17 15 17 18 16 16 18 17 16.636 0.455 Rising
Packers 18 18 19 18 18 15 17 23 18 17 18 18.091 2.455 Rising
Steelers 19 19 22 20 22 23 21 18 19 20 19 20.182 -1.091 Falling
Jets 21 21 20 22 19 19 19 25 22 19 24 21.000 3.091 Rising
Rams 20 23 23 19 27 20 23 20 20 21 21 21.546 -1.910 Falling
Titans 22 20 18 21 28 22 20 21 23 22 22 21.727 -1.091 Falling
Giants 23 22 21 24 25 24 22 19 21 23 20 22.182 -2.818 Falling
Buccaneers 24 26 24 23 21 25 24 24 24 24 23 23.818 2.455 Rising
Browns 25 28 27 26 23 27 26 22 25 26 25 25.455 1.181 Rising
Jaguars 29 25 25 28 20 21 25 29 26 25 27 25.455 3.363 Rising
Vikings 27 24 26 30 24 28 29 26 29 27 28 27.091 -1.455 Falling
Bills 26 27 30 25 30 26 28 30 28 28 26 27.636 -2.363 Falling
Raiders 28 30 28 27 29 29 27 27 27 29 29 28.182 -2.000 Falling
Falcons 30 29 29 29 26 30 30 28 30 30 30 29.182 -0.364 Falling
Redskins 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.091 -0.818 Falling
Texans 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 31.909 0.091 Rising

Observations:

  • Sports Illustrated making the case for the Redskins to be the worst team in the league. With RGIII being shut down for the season, are they wrong?
  • Chargers stayed put in most lists, and actually were dropped by ESPN.
  • Conversely, the Giants were dropped by nearly 3 spots. So, San Diego didn't win so much as the Giants gave up.
  • Seattle no longer the unanimous top team. How can a team be atop the rankings if they lost. The top spot is only for winners, Seattle. (Author's note: I think Seattle should still be at the top of the rankings despite the loss.)

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective
ESPN Fox CBS USA Today Sports Illustrated ProFootballTalk NFL.com SB Nation Reddit Associated Press ProFootballFocus Standard Deviation Change since last period
Texans 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.288 0.288 Rising
Redskins 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 0.288 -0.574 Falling
Saints 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 0.445 -0.388 Falling
Broncos 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 0.481 -0.301 Falling
Seahawks 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 0.656 0.656 Rising
Panthers 6 5 8 7 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 0.793 -0.259 Falling
Patriots 4 4 2 5 5 3 4 5 4 4 4 0.853 0.071 Rising
Eagles 9 9 9 9 7 9 9 11 9 9 9 0.853 -0.613 Falling
Chargers 17 17 15 17 15 17 18 16 16 18 17 0.979 -0.332 Falling
Raiders 28 30 28 27 29 29 27 27 27 29 29 1.029 -0.869 Falling
Ravens 14 12 13 13 13 11 15 14 14 13 13 1.029 -0.084 Falling
Chiefs 7 8 7 6 9 8 5 8 7 7 7 1.029 -0.023 Falling
Cowboys 15 16 17 16 17 13 16 17 17 16 16 1.128 -0.309 Falling
Bengals 8 7 5 8 8 5 8 7 8 8 8 1.136 0.354 Rising
Buccaneers 24 26 24 23 21 25 24 24 24 24 23 1.192 -0.094 Falling
Falcons 30 29 29 29 26 30 30 28 30 30 30 1.192 -0.335 Falling
Colts 11 13 11 12 12 14 12 12 11 10 14 1.206 -0.027 Falling
49ers 5 6 6 4 3 7 7 4 6 5 5 1.213 0.332 Rising
Cardinals 10 10 10 10 14 10 10 9 10 11 10 1.226 -0.217 Falling
Bears 13 14 14 15 11 12 14 15 13 12 11 1.379 -0.232 Falling
Steelers 19 19 22 20 22 23 21 18 19 20 19 1.527 0.148 Rising
Browns 25 28 27 26 23 27 26 22 25 26 25 1.671 -0.515 Falling
Bills 26 27 30 25 30 26 28 30 28 28 26 1.720 -0.238 Falling
Giants 23 22 21 24 25 24 22 19 21 23 20 1.749 -0.218 Falling
Packers 18 18 19 18 18 15 17 23 18 17 18 1.832 -2.176 Falling
Vikings 27 24 26 30 24 28 29 26 29 27 28 1.881 -0.131 Falling
Dolphins 16 15 16 14 10 16 11 13 15 15 15 1.946 0.610 Rising
Jets 21 21 20 22 19 19 19 25 22 19 24 2.000 -0.391 Falling
Rams 20 23 23 19 27 20 23 20 20 21 21 2.189 0.469 Rising
Lions 12 11 12 11 16 18 13 10 12 14 12 2.249 0.648 Rising
Titans 22 20 18 21 28 22 20 21 23 22 22 2.378 1.011 Rising
Jaguars 29 25 25 28 20 21 25 29 26 25 27 2.775 0.526 Rising

Observations:

  • Redskins and Texans near unanimous picks for 31 and 32, respectively. And the only non-unanimous pick has them swapped in position.
  • Pretty good consensus about the top 5 teams.
  • Wow, Chargers pretty consistent in their ranking; even if that ranking is wrong.
  • Packers actually would be pretty consistent in their ranking had SBNation not messed everything up
  • Jacksonville continues to climb the rankings, just not at a constant pace

Objective Average

Objective
Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs Aikman Efficiency Pro Football Reference Cold Hard Football Facts Massey Average Change since last period
Seahawks 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1.222 -0.122 Falling
Broncos 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 6 2 3.000 0.400 Rising
Saints 4 2 4 4 5 6 5 4 5 4.333 0.467 Rising
Panthers 3 11 2 3 9 2 3 2 4 4.333 -1.433 Falling
49ers 8 6 5 5 12 4 4 7 3 6.000 -0.600 Falling
Bengals 7 4 8 9 1 5 8 5 9 6.222 1.078 Rising
Patriots 6 9 7 8 2 10 9 9 7 7.444 -0.544 Falling
Chiefs 5 19 11 6 6 7 6 3 6 7.667 1.133 Rising
Cardinals 10 7 6 7 8 11 7 11 8 8.333 0.967 Rising
Eagles 11 5 9 11 7 8 14 8 11 9.333 0.767 Rising
Colts 17 18 12 10 11 16 10 13 10 13.000 -1.100 Falling
Dolphins 19 16 10 12 10 14 12 14 13 13.333 1.567 Rising
Lions 12 8 18 15 15 9 16 12 16 13.444 -1.244 Falling
Bears 9 12 19 16 16 12 18 10 17 14.333 2.367 Rising
Chargers 14 17 16 14 17 13 13 17 14 15.000 2.500 Rising
Cowboys 15 24 15 13 18 18 15 18 12 16.444 -2.544 Falling
Rams 18 30 14 17 25 17 11 22 15 18.778 -3.178 Falling
Buccaneers 13 28 13 20 13 21 19 21 22 18.889 2.111 Rising
Titans 23 21 23 19 14 19 17 16 20 19.111 -1.711 Falling
Ravens 21 26 17 18 22 15 20 15 18 19.111 -0.111 Falling
Packers 20 10 25 21 21 20 21 19 21 19.778 0.422 Rising
Steelers 16 15 22 23 19 23 23 20 23 20.444 0.256 Rising
Giants 27 14 20 22 20 27 25 30 19 22.667 -1.767 Falling
Bills 22 20 28 27 31 22 24 24 29 25.222 -1.222 Falling
Falcons 24 23 24 25 24 31 22 29 26 25.333 0.367 Rising
Browns 28 13 29 30 30 26 26 23 30 26.111 1.489 Rising
Jets 26 27 26 24 23 28 30 31 25 26.667 2.533 Rising
Vikings 25 25 27 26 26 30 27 27 27 26.667 0.033 Rising
Raiders 31 31 30 29 28 25 29 26 28 28.556 -1.356 Falling
Texans 29 22 32 32 32 29 28 25 32 29.000 -0.900 Falling
Jaguars 32 32 21 28 29 32 32 32 24 29.111 0.989 Rising
Redskins 30 29 31 31 27 24 31 28 31 29.111 -1.611 Falling

Observations:

  • By nature of the models, Seattle lost so they'll be dropped a little in BeatGraphs' rankings. Aside from that, they're still 1st in all the other lists.
  • Clear deliniation of the top 10 teams from everyone else.
  • Chargers currently #7 in the AFC.
  • 9 of the bottom 14 teams are AFC teams. Just goes to show how bad the conference is overall when the AFC outnumbers the NFC in the bottom 14 by a near 2-to-1 margin.
  • Team Efficiency has the Browns at 13th, Giants at 14th and the Chargers at 17th. Which team do you think is better?

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective
Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs Aikman Efficiency Pro Football Reference Cold Hard Football Facts Massey Standard Deviation Change since last period
Seahawks 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 0.629 0.329 Rising
Saints 4 2 4 4 5 6 5 4 5 1.054 -0.482 Falling
Broncos 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 6 2 1.247 -0.497 Falling
Vikings 25 25 27 26 26 30 27 27 27 1.414 -0.638 Falling
Chargers 14 17 16 14 17 13 13 17 14 1.633 -0.170 Falling
Cardinals 10 7 6 7 8 11 7 11 8 1.764 -0.083 Falling
Raiders 31 31 30 29 28 25 29 26 28 1.950 -0.408 Falling
Patriots 6 9 7 8 2 10 9 9 7 2.266 0.566 Rising
Redskins 30 29 31 31 27 24 31 28 31 2.283 -0.094 Falling
Jets 26 27 26 24 23 28 30 31 25 2.494 0.716 Rising
Bengals 7 4 8 9 1 5 8 5 9 2.529 -0.156 Falling
Eagles 11 5 9 11 7 8 14 8 11 2.539 -0.086 Falling
49ers 8 6 5 5 12 4 4 7 3 2.582 0.523 Rising
Dolphins 19 16 10 12 10 14 12 14 13 2.708 1.008 Rising
Falcons 24 23 24 25 24 31 22 29 26 2.749 -0.046 Falling
Titans 23 21 23 19 14 19 17 16 20 2.885 -0.556 Falling
Steelers 16 15 22 23 19 23 23 20 23 2.986 0.264 Rising
Colts 17 18 12 10 11 16 10 13 10 3.019 0.175 Rising
Panthers 3 11 2 3 9 2 3 2 4 3.127 1.008 Rising
Lions 12 8 18 15 15 9 16 12 16 3.201 -0.893 Falling
Ravens 21 26 17 18 22 15 20 15 18 3.348 0.062 Rising
Texans 29 22 32 32 32 29 28 25 32 3.367 -0.223 Falling
Cowboys 15 24 15 13 18 18 15 18 12 3.370 -0.812 Falling
Bears 9 12 19 16 16 12 18 10 17 3.432 -0.619 Falling
Bills 22 20 28 27 31 22 24 24 29 3.489 -0.706 Falling
Packers 20 10 25 21 21 20 21 19 21 3.794 0.139 Rising
Jaguars 32 32 21 28 29 32 32 32 24 3.871 1.062 Rising
Chiefs 5 19 11 6 6 7 6 3 6 4.472 -0.720 Falling
Giants 27 14 20 22 20 27 25 30 19 4.714 0.014 Rising
Buccaneers 13 28 13 20 13 21 19 21 22 4.795 0.212 Rising
Browns 28 13 29 30 30 26 26 23 30 5.152 -0.029 Falling
Rams 18 30 14 17 25 17 11 22 15 5.573 0.335 Rising

Observations:

  • If a team were "inconsistent" like the Chargers are purported to be, would they have one of the most-consistent Objective rankings?
  • Seahawks still most consistently-ranked team.
  • For as much ire as BeatGraphs gets each week, Team Efficiency is actually the list mucking things up the most.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Average Change since last period
Seahawks 1.455 1.222 1.338 -0.288 Falling
Broncos 1.636 3.000 2.318 0.655 Rising
Saints 3.273 4.333 3.803 1.006 Rising
Panthers 6.091 4.333 5.212 -2.126 Falling
49ers 5.273 6.000 5.636 0.246 Rising
Patriots 4.000 7.444 5.722 -0.499 Falling
Bengals 7.273 6.222 6.747 0.630 Rising
Chiefs 7.182 7.667 7.424 0.612 Rising
Eagles 9.000 9.333 9.167 0.974 Rising
Cardinals 10.364 8.333 9.348 1.347 Rising
Colts 12.000 13.000 12.500 -1.277 Falling
Lions 12.818 13.444 13.131 -1.667 Falling
Bears 13.091 14.333 13.712 2.956 Rising
Dolphins 14.182 13.333 13.758 1.601 Rising
Chargers 16.636 15.000 15.818 1.477 Rising
Ravens 13.182 19.111 16.146 0.263 Rising
Cowboys 16.000 16.444 16.222 -3.499 Falling
Packers 18.091 19.778 18.934 1.439 Rising
Rams 21.546 18.778 20.162 -2.544 Falling
Steelers 20.182 20.444 20.313 -0.418 Falling
Titans 21.727 19.111 20.419 -1.401 Falling
Buccaneers 23.818 18.889 21.354 2.282 Rising
Giants 22.182 22.667 22.424 -2.292 Falling
Jets 21.000 26.667 23.833 2.812 Rising
Browns 25.455 26.111 25.783 1.335 Rising
Bills 27.636 25.222 26.429 -1.793 Falling
Vikings 27.091 26.667 26.879 -0.711 Falling
Falcons 29.182 25.333 27.258 0.001 Rising
Jaguars 25.455 29.111 27.283 2.176 Rising
Raiders 28.182 28.556 28.369 -1.678 Falling
Redskins 31.091 29.111 30.101 -1.215 Falling
Texans 31.909 29.000 30.455 -0.405 Falling

Observations:

  • Again, the top 10 teams seem to be separated from the rest.
  • Chargers are slightly above average now.
  • Atlanta moved ever so slightly, by 0.001 spots compared to last week.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Standard Deviation Change since last period
Seahawks 1.455 1.222 0.654 0.441 Rising
Saints 3.273 4.333 0.942 -0.278 Falling
Broncos 1.636 3.000 1.135 -0.262 Falling
Raiders 28.182 28.556 1.526 -0.663 Falling
Chargers 16.636 15.000 1.546 -0.032 Falling
Vikings 27.091 26.667 1.700 -0.400 Falling
Cardinals 10.364 8.333 1.802 -0.356 Falling
Eagles 9.000 9.333 1.824 -0.276 Falling
Redskins 31.091 29.111 1.833 -0.403 Falling
Bengals 7.273 6.222 1.965 0.026 Rising
49ers 5.273 6.000 1.985 0.355 Rising
Colts 12.000 13.000 2.269 0.009 Rising
Steelers 20.182 20.444 2.304 0.030 Rising
Panthers 6.091 4.333 2.347 0.688 Rising
Dolphins 14.182 13.333 2.358 0.770 Rising
Patriots 4.000 7.444 2.376 0.254 Rising
Cowboys 16.000 16.444 2.421 -0.864 Falling
Bears 13.091 14.333 2.594 -0.435 Falling
Texans 31.909 29.000 2.691 -0.461 Falling
Lions 12.818 13.444 2.737 -0.404 Falling
Falcons 29.182 25.333 2.801 0.087 Rising
Bills 27.636 25.222 2.924 -0.361 Falling
Titans 21.727 19.111 2.924 -0.114 Falling
Packers 18.091 19.778 3.005 -0.843 Falling
Chiefs 7.182 7.667 3.105 -0.637 Falling
Giants 22.182 22.667 3.426 -0.198 Falling
Jets 21.000 26.667 3.598 0.280 Rising
Browns 25.455 26.111 3.686 -0.253 Falling
Jaguars 25.455 29.111 3.780 1.169 Rising
Ravens 13.182 19.111 3.785 0.251 Rising
Buccaneers 23.818 18.889 4.140 -0.079 Falling
Rams 21.546 18.778 4.302 -0.020 Falling

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objective Average Standard Deviation Change since last period
Ravens 13.182 19.111 5.929 0.747 Rising
Jets 21.000 26.667 5.667 0.558 Rising
Jaguars 25.455 29.111 3.657 2.375 Rising
Patriots 4.000 7.444 3.444 0.089 Rising
Packers 18.091 19.778 1.687 2.033 Rising
Broncos 1.636 3.000 1.364 0.509 Rising
Bears 13.091 14.333 1.242 1.178 Rising
Saints 3.273 4.333 1.061 1.079 Rising
Colts 12.000 13.000 1.000 -0.355 Rising
49ers 5.273 6.000 0.727 1.691 Rising
Browns 25.455 26.111 0.657 -0.307 Rising
Lions 12.818 13.444 0.626 -0.847 Rising
Giants 22.182 22.667 0.485 -1.051 Rising
Chiefs 7.182 7.667 0.485 -1.042 Rising
Cowboys 16.000 16.444 0.444 -1.911 Rising
Raiders 28.182 28.556 0.374 -0.644 Rising
Eagles 9.000 9.333 0.333 0.415 Rising
Steelers 20.182 20.444 0.263 -1.346 Rising
Seahawks 1.455 1.222 -0.232 -0.332 Rising
Vikings 27.091 26.667 -0.424 -1.488 Rising
Dolphins 14.182 13.333 -0.849 0.069 Rising
Bengals 7.273 6.222 -1.051 -0.896 Rising
Chargers 16.636 15.000 -1.636 -2.045 Rising
Panthers 6.091 4.333 -1.758 -1.385 Rising
Redskins 31.091 29.111 -1.980 0.793 Rising
Cardinals 10.364 8.333 -2.030 0.761 Rising
Bills 27.636 25.222 -2.414 -1.141 Rising
Titans 21.727 19.111 -2.616 0.620 Rising
Rams 21.546 18.778 -2.768 1.268 Rising
Texans 31.909 29.000 -2.909 0.991 Rising
Falcons 29.182 25.333 -3.849 -0.731 Rising
Buccaneers 23.818 18.889 -4.929 0.344 Rising

Observations:

  • Chargers now one of the "under-ranked" teams, though not egregiously.
  • It's no surprise to me that the 4 most "over-ranked" teams are in the AFC. It does surprise me that all of a sudden, Jacksonville is an "over-ranked" team. I wonder if the hype and hope is getting the best of the pundits
  • Broncos slightly over-ranked.
  • Tampa Bay can't buy any respect. Do they deserve it though considering all the drama?

Sources

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

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