2016 NFL Power Rankings Consensus: Week 8

All four teams in the AFC West won this week. With big statement wins by the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos, many pundits are wondering: is the AFC West the best division in football?

My how things can change in just two weeks. Two weeks ago tonight, the San Diego Chargers surprised the nation by taking down the division-rival Denver Broncos. Then they headed into Atlanta, and when the team went into the locker room at halftime having just closed out the half in the most Chargers way. Then something crazy happened: the Chargers won the game. The rest of the country really began to notice that squad from San Diego.

With two big statement wins by the Chargers - the same Chargers that still are in the cellar of the AFC West - it has gotten a number of pundits to ask: is the AFC West the best division in the NFL this year? It sure seems that way so far, and the stats back up that assertion.

Notable Quotes

The Chargers' defense still has some problems, but pass rush is not one of them. Rookie defensive end Joey Bosa has recorded 4.0 total sacks in two of his three games and San Diego ranks in the top 10 in sacks and pressure percentage. They'll be chasing after the Broncos in Week 8.

To put the Chargers’ weekly fireworks show into context of the NFL season, imagine that you’re flipping through the dregs of Halloween movies all over TV right now (The Amityville Horror remake; The Omen 3; that two-hour virtual Xanax where Jon Bon Jovi plays a vampire hunter) ... and then you find The Shining. Despite only having three wins to show for it, San Diego is must-see television each week, amid a sea of unwatchable games.

Contrary to the standard of blowing the game in the 4th quarter this year, The Chargers tried to blow the game in the 2nd. Terrible special teams plays put the team in a precarious position. The defense looked good even though the secondary was gutted by injury and on routes by Julio Jones. Playing from behind in the 4th quarter should become part of the Chargers game plan from now on.

Division Averages

Stock Rising

Stock Falling

Subjective Average

		Subjective
		ESPN	Fox	CBS	USA	SI	PFT	NFL	SN	SBN	Reddit	PFF	AP		Average		Change in Value
1	Patriots	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1.000		0.750
2	Cowboys	4	2	2	3	2	2	3	2	5	3	2	2		2.667		1.083
3	Vikings	5	5	3	5	3	3	2	3	2	2	6	5		3.667		-2.334
4	Seahawks	2	3	5	4	5	4	4	4	3	4	3	3		3.667		-0.250
5	Broncos	3	4	6	2	4	6	5	5	4	5	5	4		4.417		2.583
6	Packers	6	6	4	6	11	5	6	6	14	8	9	8		7.417		1.500
7	Chiefs	9	8	7	10	6	9	9	7	7	11	10	7		8.333		2.667
8	Falcons	10	7	8	7	13	7	10	12	6	7	8	10		8.750		-3.833
9	Eagles	12	12	10	12	8	13	7	9	8	6	4	6		8.917		4.166
10	Raiders	11	10	9	11	7	10	11	8	10	10	7	9		9.417		3.333
11	Steelers	8	9	14	8	14	8	12	10	9	9	17	11		10.750		-2.500
12	Cardinals	7	11	12	14	15	17	8	11	11	12	18	12		12.333		0.667
13	Lions	15	15	13	9	12	11	14	15	16	14	14	14		13.500		4.083
14	Bills	16	14	20	13	9	15	13	14	12	13	13	15		13.917		-5.500
15	Redskins	19	16	17	16	16	12	15	16	13	16	11	13		15.000		-5.083
16	Giants	18	13	15	17	20	14	16	17	17	17	16	16		16.333		0.167
17	Chargers	14	17	11	20	10	21	17	22	18	19	12	19		16.667		4.333
18	Bengals	13	19	18	15	17	19	19	18	15	15	20	18		17.167		3.083
19	Texans	17	18	22	18	21	16	18	13	21	18	22	17		18.417		-3.334
20	Buccaneers	20	24	21	25	18	18	21	19	24	20	23	22		21.250		2.833
21	Dolphins	26	22	19	23	19	20	22	23	20	23	19	20		21.333		4.667
22	Colts	24	20	16	19	23	22	24	21	26	24	26	21		22.167		3.416
23	Titans	23	23	24	22	24	23	25	25	23	27	15	25		23.250		-3.667
24	Ravens	21	21	27	27	29	24	23	20	19	21	24	24		23.333		-4.583
25	Rams	27	26	25	21	27	25	20	24	25	22	21	23		23.833		-3.500
26	Saints	25	27	23	24	22	26	26	26	22	25	25	26		24.750		-3.000
27	Panthers	22	28	29	28	25	27	28	29	28	26	27	27		27.000		-0.167
28	Jets	28	25	26	26	26	29	27	28	27	28	29	28		27.250		1.333
29	Jaguars	29	29	28	29	28	28	29	27	29	29	28	29		28.500		-2.667
30	Bears	30	30	30	30	30	31	31	30	30	30	30	30		30.167		-0.084
31	49ers	31	31	31	31	32	30	30	31	31	31	31	31		30.917		-0.084
32	Browns	32	32	32	32	31	32	32	32	32	32	32	32		31.917		-0.084

Observations:

• The top 16 teams are split 10-to-6 in favor of NFC.
• The Chargers just miss out in being one of those 6 teams. Though that means 3 of the 6 AFC teams in the top half of the league are in the AFC West.
• The AFC South has no representatives in the top half of the rankings here. 3 AFC West, 2 AFC East, and 1 AFC North Team. In fact, the entire AFC West is ranked above the top AFC South team.

Subjective Standard Deviation

		Subjective
		ESPN	Fox	CBS	USA	SI	PFT	NFL	SN	SBN	Reddit	PFF	AP		STD DEV		Change in Value
1	Patriots	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		0.000		-0.433
2	Browns	32	32	32	32	31	32	32	32	32	32	32	32		0.276		-0.097
3	Bears	30	30	30	30	30	31	31	30	30	30	30	30		0.373		-0.120
4	49ers	31	31	31	31	32	30	30	31	31	31	31	31		0.493		-0.060
5	Jaguars	29	29	28	29	28	28	29	27	29	29	28	29		0.646		-1.126
6	Seahawks	2	3	5	4	5	4	4	4	3	4	3	3		0.850		0.210
7	Cowboys	4	2	2	3	2	2	3	2	5	3	2	2		0.943		0.114
8	Broncos	3	4	6	2	4	6	5	5	4	5	5	4		1.115		-0.299
9	Jets	28	25	26	26	26	29	27	28	27	28	29	28		1.233		-0.265
10	Vikings	5	5	3	5	3	3	2	3	2	2	6	5		1.374		0.750
11	Raiders	11	10	9	11	7	10	11	8	10	10	7	9		1.382		0.218
12	Chiefs	9	8	7	10	6	9	9	7	7	11	10	7		1.491		-1.396
13	Saints	25	27	23	24	22	26	26	26	22	25	25	26		1.588		0.000
14	Giants	18	13	15	17	20	14	16	17	17	17	16	16		1.748		-0.273
15	Panthers	22	28	29	28	25	27	28	29	28	26	27	27		1.871		0.299
16	Lions	15	15	13	9	12	11	14	15	16	14	14	14		1.893		-0.323
17	Bengals	13	19	18	15	17	19	19	18	15	15	20	18		2.075		-1.091
18	Dolphins	26	22	19	23	19	20	22	23	20	23	19	20		2.095		0.567
19	Falcons	10	7	8	7	13	7	10	12	6	7	8	10		2.126		1.486
20	Redskins	19	16	17	16	16	12	15	16	13	16	11	13		2.199		0.398
21	Buccaneers	20	24	21	25	18	18	21	19	24	20	23	22		2.278		-0.382
22	Rams	27	26	25	21	27	25	20	24	25	22	21	23		2.303		-0.946
23	Bills	16	14	20	13	9	15	13	14	12	13	13	15		2.499		0.793
24	Texans	17	18	22	18	21	16	18	13	21	18	22	17		2.564		-0.365
25	Packers	6	6	4	6	11	5	6	6	14	8	9	8		2.691		0.192
26	Eagles	12	12	10	12	8	13	7	9	8	6	4	6		2.783		0.219
27	Titans	23	23	24	22	24	23	25	25	23	27	15	25		2.803		0.271
28	Steelers	8	9	14	8	14	8	12	10	9	9	17	11		2.803		0.798
29	Colts	24	20	16	19	23	22	24	21	26	24	26	21		2.824		0.498
30	Ravens	21	21	27	27	29	24	23	20	19	21	24	24		2.981		0.149
31	Cardinals	7	11	12	14	15	17	8	11	11	12	18	12		3.118		0.958
32	Chargers	14	17	11	20	10	21	17	22	18	19	12	19		3.837		0.622

Observations:

• No surprise to see the Chargers at the bottom of this list. Some pundits just aren't convinced about them, while others see them as a top-10 team, ranging anywhere from 10 to 22 (and everywhere in between).
• Patriots a unanimous top pick (yawn).
• Browns are one spot away from being the unanimous bottom pick for like the 30th year in a row.

Objective Average

		Objective
		FO	TR	SAG	BG	Aikman	PFR	CHFF	Massey	ARGH	538	FPI		Average		Change in Value
1	Patriots	7	1	1	3	5	2	1	1	1	1	1		2.182		0.818
2	Vikings	1	8	2	2	11	3	2	2	2	4	3		3.636		-1.272
3	Broncos	9	4	3	5	7	5	7	3	3	3	2		4.636		4.364
4	Eagles	4	11	8	1	4	1	3	7	4	9	9		5.546		4.090
5	Seahawks	2	3	7	9	6	11	6	5	5	2	7		5.727		-0.727
6	Cowboys	5	14	5	4	2	6	5	4	6	10	12		6.636		-1.090
7	Bills	3	5	6	20	1	4	4	10	10	7	5		6.818		-3.363
8	Cardinals	10	2	4	23	3	8	8	13	11	6	4		8.364		-0.637
9	Packers	8	9	11	6	10	13	13	9	8	8	6		9.182		2.454
10	Chiefs	14	7	10	10	13	12	10	6	7	5	14		9.818		0.182
11	Steelers	12	6	9	7	15	9	18	11	9	11	11		10.727		-2.818
12	Falcons	6	13	12	12	17	7	9	8	12	12	10		10.727		-1.363
13	Raiders	18	16	13	14	9	15	14	12	13	20	16		14.546		1.545
14	Chargers	13	15	14	21	20	10	11	16	18	21	13		15.636		1.819
15	Redskins	11	26	18	13	19	14	12	15	15	17	21		16.455		-0.819
16	Bengals	25	10	15	16	21	18	20	18	19	14	15		17.364		1.818
17	Giants	17	20	17	15	25	16	19	14	14	18	17		17.455		1.272
18	Panthers	24	12	16	29	14	21	25	25	26	13	8		19.364		-0.182
19	Lions	26	23	23	11	22	19	17	19	16	15	27		19.818		0.728
20	Dolphins	20	17	22	28	23	17	15	22	20	26	20		20.909		2.000
21	Ravens	15	18	20	19	16	22	23	27	24	25	24		21.182		-3.818
22	Saints	21	24	26	18	12	20	21	21	25	27	19		21.273		-0.818
23	Texans	30	21	21	8	27	26	29	17	17	16	22		21.273		-2.909
24	Colts	28	19	19	25	18	23	22	26	21	22	18		21.909		2.546
25	Titans	16	30	28	27	8	24	16	28	27	30	23		23.364		-2.273
26	Rams	22	22	25	22	28	27	26	23	22	23	31		24.636		-3.363
27	Buccaneers	29	27	24	26	24	25	27	20	23	24	25		24.909		2.909
28	Jets	32	25	27	17	30	28	31	24	28	19	26		26.091		1.455
29	Bears	19	29	30	30	26	30	24	30	30	28	28		27.636		0.000
30	Jaguars	23	28	29	24	31	32	28	29	29	31	30		28.546		-0.819
31	49ers	27	31	31	32	29	31	32	31	31	29	29		30.273		-1.364
32	Browns	31	32	32	31	32	29	30	32	32	32	32		31.364		-0.364

Observations:

• I mean, I know the Broncos completely trounced the Texans, but to jump over 4 spots this week? Wow.
• Chargers jumped almost 2 spots this week which is cool.
• The top 16 of the league is an even 8-and-8 split between AFC and NFC teams.
• Unlike the subjective list, all 4 AFC West teams are in the top half of the league on the objective list.
• The Texans are the highest-ranked AFC South team ... at #23.

Objective Standard Deviation

		Objective
		FO	TR	SAG	BG	Aikman	PFR	CHFF	Massey	ARGH	538	FPI		STD DEV		Change in Value
1	Browns	31	32	32	31	32	29	30	32	32	32	32		0.979		-0.369
2	49ers	27	31	31	32	29	31	32	31	31	29	29		1.483		-0.247
3	Patriots	7	1	1	3	5	2	1	1	1	1	1		1.946		-0.310
4	Broncos	9	4	3	5	7	5	7	3	3	3	2		2.101		-2.704
5	Buccaneers	29	27	24	26	24	25	27	20	23	24	25		2.275		-0.515
6	Packers	8	9	11	6	10	13	13	9	8	8	6		2.289		-0.704
7	Seahawks	2	3	7	9	6	11	6	5	5	2	7		2.666		0.108
8	Jaguars	23	28	29	24	31	32	28	29	29	31	30		2.675		0.582
9	Raiders	18	16	13	14	9	15	14	12	13	20	16		2.840		-0.688
10	Rams	22	22	25	22	28	27	26	23	22	23	31		2.901		-0.539
11	Vikings	1	8	2	2	11	3	2	2	2	4	3		2.932		1.109
12	Falcons	6	13	12	12	17	7	9	8	12	12	10		2.988		0.025
13	Giants	17	20	17	15	25	16	19	14	14	18	17		2.996		-0.772
14	Chiefs	14	7	10	10	13	12	10	6	7	5	14		3.069		0.657
15	Colts	28	19	19	25	18	23	22	26	21	22	18		3.204		-0.473
16	Eagles	4	11	8	1	4	1	3	7	4	9	9		3.258		-1.828
17	Steelers	12	6	9	7	15	9	18	11	9	11	11		3.278		1.044
18	Bears	19	29	30	30	26	30	24	30	30	28	28		3.310		-1.463
19	Cowboys	5	14	5	4	2	6	5	4	6	10	12		3.549		0.434
20	Ravens	15	18	20	19	16	22	23	27	24	25	24		3.688		0.576
21	Dolphins	20	17	22	28	23	17	15	22	20	26	20		3.704		0.675
22	Chargers	13	15	14	21	20	10	11	16	18	21	13		3.724		-0.590
23	Bengals	25	10	15	16	21	18	20	18	19	14	15		3.820		-0.525
24	Saints	21	24	26	18	12	20	21	21	25	27	19		4.047		0.084
25	Redskins	11	26	18	13	19	14	12	15	15	17	21		4.186		-0.412
26	Jets	32	25	27	17	30	28	31	24	28	19	26		4.481		0.804
27	Lions	26	23	23	11	22	19	17	19	16	15	27		4.668		1.247
28	Bills	3	5	6	20	1	4	4	10	10	7	5		4.914		3.477
29	Cardinals	10	2	4	23	3	8	8	13	11	6	4		5.709		0.502
30	Texans	30	21	21	8	27	26	29	17	17	16	22		6.268		-0.677
31	Panthers	24	12	16	29	14	21	25	25	26	13	8		6.664		0.414
32	Titans	16	30	28	27	8	24	16	28	27	30	23		6.759		-0.570

Overall Average

		Subj vs Obj
		Subj Avg	Obj Avg		Average		Change in Value
1	Patriots	1.000	2.182		1.591		0.784
2	Vikings	3.667	3.636		3.652		-1.804
3	Broncos	4.417	4.636		4.527		3.473
4	Cowboys	2.667	6.636		4.652		-0.004
5	Seahawks	3.667	5.727		4.697		-0.489
6	Eagles	8.917	5.546		7.231		4.129
7	Packers	7.417	9.182		8.299		1.978
8	Chiefs	8.333	9.818		9.076		1.424
9	Falcons	8.750	10.727		9.739		-2.599
10	Cardinals	12.333	8.364		10.348		0.016
11	Bills	13.917	6.818		10.367		-4.431
12	Steelers	10.750	10.727		10.739		-2.659
13	Raiders	9.417	14.546		11.981		2.439
14	Redskins	15.000	16.455		15.727		-2.950
15	Chargers	16.667	15.636		16.152		3.075
16	Lions	13.500	19.818		16.659		2.405
17	Giants	16.333	17.455		16.894		0.720
18	Bengals	17.167	17.364		17.265		2.451
19	Texans	18.417	21.273		19.845		-3.122
20	Dolphins	21.333	20.909		21.121		3.334
21	Colts	22.167	21.909		22.038		2.981
22	Ravens	23.333	21.182		22.258		-4.201
23	Saints	24.750	21.273		23.011		-1.909
24	Buccaneers	21.250	24.909		23.080		2.871
25	Panthers	27.000	19.364		23.182		-0.174
26	Titans	23.250	23.364		23.307		-2.970
27	Rams	23.833	24.636		24.235		-3.432
28	Jets	27.250	26.091		26.670		1.394
29	Jaguars	28.500	28.546		28.523		-1.743
30	Bears	30.167	27.636		28.902		-0.042
31	49ers	30.917	30.273		30.595		-0.724
32	Browns	31.917	31.364		31.640		-0.223

Overall Standard Deviation

		Subj vs Obj
		Subj Avg	Obj Avg		STD DEV		Change in Value
1	Browns	31.917	31.364		0.758		-0.298
2	49ers	30.917	30.273		1.132		-0.454
3	Patriots	1.000	2.182		1.469		-0.241
4	Broncos	4.417	4.636		1.665		-1.952
5	Jaguars	28.500	28.546		1.908		-0.243
6	Seahawks	3.667	5.727		2.199		0.207
7	Vikings	3.667	3.636		2.258		0.824
8	Giants	16.333	17.455		2.490		-0.697
9	Chiefs	8.333	9.818		2.493		-0.224
10	Bears	30.167	27.636		2.629		-0.909
11	Rams	23.833	24.636		2.637		-0.738
12	Packers	7.417	9.182		2.658		-0.406
13	Falcons	8.750	10.727		2.757		-0.300
14	Buccaneers	21.250	24.909		2.919		-0.382
15	Dolphins	21.333	20.909		2.983		0.157
16	Colts	22.167	21.909		3.014		-0.086
17	Bengals	17.167	17.364		3.039		-0.774
18	Steelers	10.750	10.727		3.039		0.914
19	Cowboys	2.667	6.636		3.228		0.819
20	Jets	27.250	26.091		3.276		0.464
21	Raiders	9.417	14.546		3.379		0.306
22	Redskins	15.000	16.455		3.381		-1.087
23	Eagles	8.917	5.546		3.457		-0.875
24	Saints	24.750	21.273		3.488		0.448
25	Ravens	23.333	21.182		3.507		0.458
26	Chargers	16.667	15.636		3.818		-0.357
27	Lions	13.500	19.818		4.717		1.500
28	Texans	18.417	21.273		4.925		-0.573
29	Cardinals	12.333	8.364		4.959		0.233
30	Titans	23.250	23.364		5.094		-0.347
31	Bills	13.917	6.818		5.233		2.292
32	Panthers	27.000	19.364		6.133		0.253

Difference in Averages

		Subj vs Obj
		Subj Avg	Obj Avg		Diff. in Avg		Change in Value
1	Lions	13.500	19.818		6.318		3.356
2	Raiders	9.417	14.546		5.129		1.788
3	Cowboys	2.667	6.636		3.970		2.174
4	Buccaneers	21.250	24.909		3.659		-0.076
5	Texans	18.417	21.273		2.856		-0.424
6	Seahawks	3.667	5.727		2.061		0.478
7	Falcons	8.750	10.727		1.977		-2.470
8	Packers	7.417	9.182		1.765		-0.955
9	Chiefs	8.333	9.818		1.485		2.485
10	Redskins	15.000	16.455		1.455		-4.265
11	Patriots	1.000	2.182		1.182		-0.068
12	Giants	16.333	17.455		1.121		-1.106
13	Rams	23.833	24.636		0.803		-0.136
14	Broncos	4.417	4.636		0.220		-1.780
15	Bengals	17.167	17.364		0.197		1.265
16	Titans	23.250	23.364		0.114		-1.394
17	Jaguars	28.500	28.546		0.046		-1.848
18	Steelers	10.750	10.727		-0.023		0.318
19	Vikings	3.667	3.636		-0.030		-1.060
20	Colts	22.167	21.909		-0.258		0.871
21	Dolphins	21.333	20.909		-0.424		2.667
22	Browns	31.917	31.364		-0.553		0.280
23	49ers	30.917	30.273		-0.644		1.280
24	Chargers	16.667	15.636		-1.030		2.516
25	Jets	27.250	26.091		-1.159		-0.121
26	Ravens	23.333	21.182		-2.152		-0.766
27	Bears	30.167	27.636		-2.530		-0.083
28	Eagles	8.917	5.546		-3.371		0.076
29	Saints	24.750	21.273		-3.477		-2.181
30	Cardinals	12.333	8.364		-3.970		1.303
31	Bills	13.917	6.818		-7.099		-2.137
32	Panthers	27.000	19.364		-7.636		0.016

Sources

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