SB Nation

John Crean | January 2, 2016

2015 NFL Power Rankings Consensus: Week 17

Cardinals Flying High

For 15 weeks of the NFL season, all eyes were on the undefeated Carolina Panthers. Now that they've finally lost, attention turns to the hottest team in the NFL: the Arizona Cardinals

I know I've touched on it in the past, but there was some discrepancy this season when it came to the Carolina Panthers. Some went so far as to call them one of the worst undefeated teams in NFL history. That's not to say they aren't an excellent football team, just that a lot of things fell their way this year to keep them undefeated.

If the 14-0 Panthers weren't the greatest team in the league this year, then who could possibility be better than them? The leading answer to that question in recent weeks has been the Arizona Cardinals. And now that the Panthers have finally lost, the Cardinals are the undisputed best team in the NFL right now.

Can the Cardinals ride this momentum all the way to the Super Bowl? I sure hope so.

Notable Quotes

Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Dean Spanos, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there in Del Mar with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is!

They wrap up a bad public relations year by shamefully ending all-pro Eric Weddle's nine-year tenure with club.

The Chargers gave it all they had Thursday night, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Much like in Philly, Miami and Nashville, conjecture is beginning to permeate about the head-coach position -- in this case, the status of third-year boss Mike McCoy. What a disappointment for an organization that has at least been in contention the previous two seasons. And that is merely a sidelight to the issue of relocation ... Here's hoping the San Diego Chargers stay put in San Diego.

Division Averages

Division Week 15 Average Week 17 Average Difference
AFC West 14.217 13.000 1.217
NFC West 14.685 13.131 1.554
NFC North 14.848 13.940 0.908
AFC East 12.837 14.131 -1.294
NFC South 17.054 16.726 0.328
AFC North 17.163 16.929 0.234
NFC East 18.413 20.810 -2.397
AFC South 22.783 23.333 -0.550

Stock Rising

Team Week 15 Average Week 17 Average Difference
STL 22.996 16.095 6.901
ATL 22.992 17.255 5.737
DET 22.424 18.086 4.338
WAS 17.602 13.986 3.616
SDG 28.110 25.336 2.774

Stock Falling

Team Week 15 Average Week 17 Average Difference
PHI 14.924 21.532 -6.608
NYG 16.303 20.773 -4.470
MIA 24.386 28.186 -3.800
TB 20.360 23.445 -3.085
JAX 23.644 26.705 -3.061

Subjective Average

Subjective
ESPN Fox CBS USA PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit PFF AP Average Change in Value
Cardinals 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1.364 0.886 Rising
Panthers 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 1.727 -0.727 Falling
Patriots 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 2 3 3.000 -0.167 Falling
Broncos 4 5 4 4 4 8 4 6 4 8 4 5.000 0.750 Rising
Chiefs 7 4 7 5 5 4 5 3 5 12 5 5.636 2.697 Rising
Bengals 6 9 5 6 9 9 6 7 7 4 6 6.727 0.106 Rising
Seahawks 10 8 6 7 7 6 8 9 6 10 8 7.727 -2.894 Falling
Jets 5 6 8 8 10 5 10 5 8 14 7 7.818 2.515 Rising
Vikings 11 7 10 9 8 11 9 10 10 5 9 9.000 1.833 Rising
Packers 8 12 9 11 6 10 7 12 11 6 10 9.273 -2.023 Falling
Steelers 9 11 12 10 12 7 11 8 9 7 11 9.727 -3.477 Falling
Redskins 12 10 11 12 11 12 13 11 12 19 12 12.273 2.477 Rising
Texans 14 13 13 18 13 15 12 13 13 13 13 13.636 2.947 Rising
Raiders 13 16 17 13 15 13 15 14 14 9 15 14.000 -0.417 Falling
Falcons 15 14 16 14 14 17 14 18 17 11 14 14.909 8.258 Rising
Bills 16 19 14 17 17 14 16 15 15 16 17 16.000 -0.750 Falling
Rams 17 15 19 20 16 16 18 17 16 18 16 17.091 6.992 Rising
Colts 18 17 15 21 22 22 17 22 20 22 18 19.455 -0.205 Falling
Lions 23 18 20 22 23 18 19 16 21 24 19 20.273 5.394 Rising
Eagles 19 24 23 15 18 23 20 19 22 21 20 20.364 -6.697 Falling
Giants 21 21 18 16 19 19 21 23 18 28 22 20.546 -4.213 Falling
Bears 25 20 21 19 20 21 22 21 19 17 23 20.727 -0.644 Falling
Saints 20 23 25 23 24 20 24 20 24 15 21 21.727 0.440 Rising
Buccaneers 22 22 22 24 21 24 23 24 23 25 24 23.091 -5.008 Falling
Ravens 24 25 28 28 25 28 26 26 26 20 25 25.546 3.287 Rising
Jaguars 26 26 29 26 26 25 25 25 25 26 26 25.909 -4.076 Falling
Dolphins 27 29 27 27 27 26 27 27 27 27 29 27.273 -3.773 Falling
Cowboys 29 30 24 29 29 31 28 28 28 23 28 27.909 -1.909 Falling
Chargers 28 27 26 25 28 30 30 29 29 32 27 28.273 2.310 Rising
Browns 30 31 30 30 30 27 31 30 31 29 30 29.909 -0.826 Falling
49ers 31 28 31 31 31 29 29 31 30 31 31 30.273 -1.273 Falling
Titans 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 30 32 31.818 -1.818 Falling

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective
ESPN Fox CBS USA PFT NFL SN SBN Reddit PFF AP STD DEV Change in Value
Patriots 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 2 3 0.426 0.053 Rising
Panthers 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 0.445 0.445 Rising
Titans 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 30 32 0.575 -1.585 Falling
Cardinals 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 0.643 0.048 Rising
Dolphins 27 29 27 27 27 26 27 27 27 27 29 0.862 -0.894 Falling
49ers 31 28 31 31 31 29 29 31 30 31 31 1.052 -0.581 Falling
Jaguars 26 26 29 26 26 25 25 25 25 26 26 1.083 -0.735 Falling
Browns 30 31 30 30 30 27 31 30 31 29 30 1.083 -0.671 Falling
Buccaneers 22 22 22 24 21 24 23 24 23 25 24 1.164 -0.771 Falling
Bills 16 19 14 17 17 14 16 15 15 16 17 1.414 0.052 Rising
Seahawks 10 8 6 7 7 6 8 9 6 10 8 1.420 -0.043 Falling
Rams 17 15 19 20 16 16 18 17 16 18 16 1.443 -0.213 Falling
Broncos 4 5 4 4 4 8 4 6 4 8 4 1.537 0.815 Rising
Texans 14 13 13 18 13 15 12 13 13 13 13 1.554 -0.465 Falling
Bengals 6 9 5 6 9 9 6 7 7 4 6 1.601 -0.433 Falling
Vikings 11 7 10 9 8 11 9 10 10 5 9 1.706 1.019 Rising
Steelers 9 11 12 10 12 7 11 8 9 7 11 1.763 0.599 Rising
Falcons 15 14 16 14 14 17 14 18 17 11 14 1.881 -3.032 Falling
Chargers 28 27 26 25 28 30 30 29 29 32 27 1.911 0.306 Rising
Raiders 13 16 17 13 15 13 15 14 14 9 15 2.000 -0.532 Falling
Bears 25 20 21 19 20 21 22 21 19 17 23 2.049 0.497 Rising
Packers 8 12 9 11 6 10 7 12 11 6 10 2.136 0.305 Rising
Ravens 24 25 28 28 25 28 26 26 26 20 25 2.189 -1.571 Falling
Redskins 12 10 11 12 11 12 13 11 12 19 12 2.260 -0.879 Falling
Cowboys 29 30 24 29 29 31 28 28 28 23 28 2.275 -0.583 Falling
Chiefs 7 4 7 5 5 4 5 3 5 12 5 2.307 1.280 Rising
Lions 23 18 20 22 23 18 19 16 21 24 19 2.416 0.282 Rising
Colts 18 17 15 21 22 22 17 22 20 22 18 2.426 -0.224 Falling
Eagles 19 24 23 15 18 23 20 19 22 21 20 2.496 0.401 Rising
Jets 5 6 8 8 10 5 10 5 8 14 7 2.622 1.375 Rising
Saints 20 23 25 23 24 20 24 20 24 15 21 2.766 0.032 Rising
Giants 21 21 18 16 19 19 21 23 18 28 22 3.056 -0.511 Falling

Objective Average

Objective
FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 Average Change in Value
Cardinals 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1.400 1.782 Rising
Panthers 4 8 6 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 4.000 -1.273 Falling
Seahawks 1 3 3 6 4 3 5 7 7 5 4.400 -0.673 Falling
Patriots 7 1 2 8 5 6 3 9 4 2 4.700 -1.791 Falling
Bengals 5 4 5 5 6 2 6 4 3 9 4.900 -0.173 Falling
Chiefs 2 5 4 11 8 4 4 3 5 4 5.000 1.636 Rising
Broncos 8 6 7 2 10 8 11 5 6 6 6.900 0.646 Rising
Steelers 6 9 9 12 7 5 8 10 9 8 8.300 -0.482 Falling
Vikings 9 10 10 7 9 10 10 6 10 10 9.100 1.991 Rising
Packers 18 7 8 4 12 9 12 8 8 7 9.300 -1.845 Falling
Jets 10 11 11 17 1 11 7 12 11 11 10.200 -0.018 Falling
Texans 14 13 13 14 11 17 18 16 14 12 14.200 1.982 Rising
Rams 20 14 15 13 21 12 16 11 12 17 15.100 6.809 Rising
Bills 17 12 12 27 15 13 9 18 16 13 15.200 -2.836 Falling
Redskins 11 26 16 9 13 19 13 17 18 15 15.700 4.755 Rising
Lions 12 15 14 15 20 15 24 13 15 16 15.900 3.282 Rising
Raiders 16 25 18 16 14 14 14 14 13 23 16.700 -1.154 Falling
Bears 13 23 20 10 19 16 19 15 17 24 17.600 -0.782 Falling
Falcons 27 22 17 23 18 22 15 19 19 14 19.600 3.218 Rising
Giants 21 19 19 26 23 21 20 23 20 18 21.000 -4.727 Falling
Ravens 19 16 21 31 25 18 22 20 22 19 21.300 1.518 Rising
Chargers 25 20 24 19 16 20 26 24 24 26 22.400 3.236 Rising
Eagles 24 17 22 24 28 23 23 22 23 21 22.700 -6.518 Falling
Colts 23 18 23 18 27 28 28 21 21 20 22.700 -0.518 Falling
Buccaneers 15 29 29 20 17 30 17 27 26 28 23.800 -1.164 Falling
Saints 29 27 26 25 22 29 21 26 25 25 25.500 -1.318 Falling
Cowboys 26 21 25 29 26 26 29 29 29 22 26.200 -2.291 Falling
49ers 30 28 28 22 32 24 30 25 27 27 27.300 1.064 Rising
Jaguars 22 30 30 28 24 27 25 30 28 31 27.500 -2.045 Falling
Browns 28 31 31 21 30 25 31 28 31 30 28.600 2.127 Rising
Dolphins 31 24 27 30 31 31 27 31 30 29 29.100 -3.827 Falling
Titans 32 32 32 32 29 32 32 32 32 32 31.700 -0.609 Falling

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective
FO TR SAG BG Aikman PFR CHFF Massey ARGH 538 STD DEV Change in Value
Cardinals 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 0.663 -1.137 Falling
Titans 32 32 32 32 29 32 32 32 32 32 0.900 -0.340 Falling
Vikings 9 10 10 7 9 10 10 6 10 10 1.375 -0.554 Falling
Bengals 5 4 5 5 6 2 6 4 3 9 1.814 -0.097 Falling
Seahawks 1 3 3 6 4 3 5 7 7 5 1.855 0.312 Rising
Steelers 6 9 9 12 7 5 8 10 9 8 1.900 0.259 Rising
Texans 14 13 13 14 11 17 18 16 14 12 2.088 -0.534 Falling
Panthers 4 8 6 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 2.098 0.442 Rising
Dolphins 31 24 27 30 31 31 27 31 30 29 2.256 -1.512 Falling
Giants 21 19 19 26 23 21 20 23 20 18 2.280 0.061 Rising
Broncos 8 6 7 2 10 8 11 5 6 6 2.427 0.196 Rising
Saints 29 27 26 25 22 29 21 26 25 25 2.460 -1.277 Falling
Chiefs 2 5 4 11 8 4 4 3 5 4 2.490 0.667 Rising
Patriots 7 1 2 8 5 6 3 9 4 2 2.610 0.296 Rising
Eagles 24 17 22 24 28 23 23 22 23 21 2.610 -1.363 Falling
Cowboys 26 21 25 29 26 26 29 29 29 22 2.786 -1.445 Falling
Jaguars 22 30 30 28 24 27 25 30 28 31 2.837 -0.159 Falling
49ers 30 28 28 22 32 24 30 25 27 27 2.865 -1.733 Falling
Browns 28 31 31 21 30 25 31 28 31 30 3.137 2.387 Rising
Chargers 25 20 24 19 16 20 26 24 24 26 3.231 -0.318 Falling
Rams 20 14 15 13 21 12 16 11 12 17 3.239 -0.049 Falling
Lions 12 15 14 15 20 15 24 13 15 16 3.360 -0.254 Falling
Colts 23 18 23 18 27 28 28 21 21 20 3.635 -1.619 Falling
Packers 18 7 8 4 12 9 12 8 8 7 3.662 1.835 Rising
Falcons 27 22 17 23 18 22 15 19 19 14 3.747 0.892 Rising
Jets 10 11 11 17 1 11 7 12 11 11 3.842 0.056 Rising
Raiders 16 25 18 16 14 14 14 14 13 23 3.926 -0.105 Falling
Ravens 19 16 21 31 25 18 22 20 22 19 4.001 -0.895 Falling
Bears 13 23 20 10 19 16 19 15 17 24 4.104 -0.220 Falling
Redskins 11 26 16 9 13 19 13 17 18 15 4.540 0.789 Rising
Bills 17 12 12 27 15 13 9 18 16 13 4.686 2.190 Rising
Buccaneers 15 29 29 20 17 30 17 27 26 28 5.564 -0.161 Falling

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj
Subj Avg Obj Avg Average Change in Value
Cardinals 1.364 1.400 1.382 1.334 Rising
Panthers 1.727 4.000 2.864 -1.000 Falling
Patriots 3.000 4.700 3.850 -0.979 Falling
Chiefs 5.636 5.000 5.318 2.167 Rising
Bengals 6.727 4.900 5.814 -0.034 Falling
Broncos 5.000 6.900 5.950 0.698 Rising
Seahawks 7.727 4.400 6.064 -1.784 Falling
Jets 7.818 10.200 9.009 1.249 Rising
Steelers 9.727 8.300 9.014 -1.980 Falling
Vikings 9.000 9.100 9.050 1.912 Rising
Packers 9.273 9.300 9.286 -1.934 Falling
Texans 13.636 14.200 13.918 2.465 Rising
Redskins 12.273 15.700 13.986 3.616 Rising
Raiders 14.000 16.700 15.350 -0.786 Falling
Bills 16.000 15.200 15.600 -1.793 Falling
Rams 17.091 15.100 16.095 6.901 Rising
Falcons 14.909 19.600 17.255 5.737 Rising
Lions 20.273 15.900 18.086 4.338 Rising
Bears 20.727 17.600 19.164 -0.713 Falling
Giants 20.546 21.000 20.773 -4.470 Falling
Colts 19.455 22.700 21.077 -0.361 Falling
Eagles 20.364 22.700 21.532 -6.608 Falling
Ravens 25.546 21.300 23.423 2.403 Rising
Buccaneers 23.091 23.800 23.445 -3.085 Falling
Saints 21.727 25.500 23.614 -0.440 Falling
Chargers 28.273 22.400 25.336 2.774 Rising
Jaguars 25.909 27.500 26.705 -3.061 Falling
Cowboys 27.909 26.200 27.055 -2.100 Falling
Dolphins 27.273 29.100 28.186 -3.800 Falling
49ers 30.273 27.300 28.786 -0.104 Falling
Browns 29.909 28.600 29.255 0.650 Rising
Titans 31.818 31.700 31.759 -1.214 Falling

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj
Subj Avg Obj Avg STD DEV Change in Value
Cardinals 1.364 1.400 0.653 -0.744 Falling
Titans 31.818 31.700 0.750 -1.112 Falling
Vikings 9.000 9.100 1.558 0.129 Rising
Texans 13.636 14.200 1.849 -0.487 Falling
Panthers 1.727 4.000 1.868 0.434 Rising
Dolphins 27.273 29.100 1.910 -1.120 Falling
Bengals 6.727 4.900 1.934 -0.305 Falling
Steelers 9.727 8.300 1.963 0.348 Rising
Patriots 3.000 4.700 2.015 0.392 Rising
Broncos 5.000 6.900 2.223 0.364 Rising
Jaguars 25.909 27.500 2.254 -0.794 Falling
Seahawks 7.727 4.400 2.336 0.736 Rising
Browns 29.909 28.600 2.393 0.797 Rising
Chiefs 5.636 5.000 2.417 0.726 Rising
49ers 30.273 27.300 2.587 -0.819 Falling
Rams 17.091 15.100 2.660 -0.129 Falling
Cowboys 27.909 26.200 2.671 -1.059 Falling
Giants 20.546 21.000 2.724 -0.275 Falling
Eagles 20.364 22.700 2.805 -0.574 Falling
Packers 9.273 9.300 2.962 1.130 Rising
Saints 21.727 25.500 3.231 -0.174 Falling
Raiders 14.000 16.700 3.354 -0.121 Falling
Bills 16.000 15.200 3.415 0.960 Rising
Colts 19.455 22.700 3.464 -0.896 Falling
Jets 7.818 10.200 3.471 0.701 Rising
Bears 20.727 17.600 3.558 -0.028 Falling
Lions 20.273 15.900 3.633 -0.739 Falling
Falcons 14.909 19.600 3.745 -0.320 Falling
Ravens 25.546 21.300 3.825 -1.454 Falling
Redskins 12.273 15.700 3.927 -0.544 Falling
Chargers 28.273 22.400 3.935 0.264 Rising
Buccaneers 23.091 23.800 3.947 -0.828 Falling

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj
Subj Avg Obj Avg Diff. in Avg Change in Value
Falcons 14.909 19.600 4.691 5.040 Rising
Saints 21.727 25.500 3.773 1.758 Rising
Redskins 12.273 15.700 3.427 -2.278 Rising
Colts 19.455 22.700 3.246 0.314 Rising
Raiders 14.000 16.700 2.700 0.738 Rising
Jets 7.818 10.200 2.382 2.534 Rising
Eagles 20.364 22.700 2.336 -0.179 Rising
Panthers 1.727 4.000 2.273 0.546 Rising
Broncos 5.000 6.900 1.900 0.104 Rising
Dolphins 27.273 29.100 1.827 0.054 Rising
Patriots 3.000 4.700 1.700 1.624 Rising
Jaguars 25.909 27.500 1.591 -2.030 Rising
Buccaneers 23.091 23.800 0.709 -3.844 Rising
Texans 13.636 14.200 0.564 0.966 Rising
Giants 20.546 21.000 0.455 0.516 Rising
Vikings 9.000 9.100 0.100 -0.158 Rising
Cardinals 1.364 1.400 0.036 -0.896 Rising
Packers 9.273 9.300 0.027 -0.178 Rising
Titans 31.818 31.700 -0.118 -1.209 Rising
Chiefs 5.636 5.000 -0.636 1.061 Rising
Bills 16.000 15.200 -0.800 2.086 Rising
Browns 29.909 28.600 -1.309 -2.953 Rising
Steelers 9.727 8.300 -1.427 -2.995 Rising
Cowboys 27.909 26.200 -1.709 0.382 Rising
Bengals 6.727 4.900 -1.827 0.279 Rising
Rams 17.091 15.100 -1.991 0.183 Rising
49ers 30.273 27.300 -2.973 -2.337 Rising
Bears 20.727 17.600 -3.127 0.138 Rising
Seahawks 7.727 4.400 -3.327 -2.221 Rising
Ravens 25.546 21.300 -4.246 1.769 Rising
Lions 20.273 15.900 -4.373 2.112 Rising
Chargers 28.273 22.400 -5.873 -0.926 Rising

Sources

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

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