The Chargers may have had a bye this week, but football was still played in other cities. Fans in Kansas City have been demanding respect for their team from the Power Rankers, and they're giving the Chiefs the top spot. We've looked at the numbers and it doesn't look like the Chiefs have earned that respect yet.

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Other football was played this week? Huh. I figured when the Chargers didn't play football, the entire NFL got the week off. Is this a new thing? It's not? Oh.

So the Chargers may have gotten the week off, but other teams played. This affected the Chargers rankings on both the Subjective and Objective lists. Why? Well on the Subjective side of things, sometimes a team will seem better or worse than the pundits remember the Chargers being. Or sometimes the Chargers have to move to make room for a team. On the Objective side of things, the Chargers' ranking will be adjusted because a lot of the sites factor in strength of schedule and strength of individual opponents. So as their past opponents continue to play games, it strengthens or weakens the Chargers' rankings.

Got that? Okay great. On to the rankings! Wait, first we do some quotes.

Notable Quotes

Verily, the Lord said, "Go forth, and multiply." And Rivers begat, and begat, and begat. And then the Lord spake to Mike McCoy and saith, "Plague not mine good and faithful Rivers with seven-step drops and slow-developing routes, for these art the mark of the Beast." And McCoy heard the word of the Lord, and didst shorten the drops and quicken the reads. And completions didst multiply across the Land, and the Lord was well pleased. - SB Nation

Movie: The Hitcher IMDB plot summary: "A young man who escaped the clutches of a murderous hitchhiker is subsequently stalked, framed for the hitcher's crimes and has his life made into hell by the same man he escaped." Why it fits: With each additional San Diego victory (and each time Philip Rivers lights up an opposing defense), the blame for the past few seasons falls a little more squarely on the shoulders of former head coach Norv Turner. - Sports Illustrated

The only quarterback with more 400-yard games in a season than Philip Rivers' three is Dan Marino in 1984 (four). The Redskins defense looks capable of helping Rivers make history. - ESPN

Division Averages

Division Week 9 Average Week 8 Average Difference AFC West 10.2614 11.0238 0.7624 NFC West 11.8864 13.9167 2.0303 NFC North 15.3977 15.6786 0.2809 AFC North 17.6818 17.7976 0.1158 NFC South 17.8636 17.4524 -0.4112 AFC East 17.9886 16.5595 -1.4291 AFC South 19.5682 19.6429 0.0747 NFC East 21.3523 19.9286 -1.4237

AFC West is still climbing in the rankings. But NFC West is hot on their heels.

Stock Rising

Team Week 8 Average Week 9 Average Difference ARI 21.514 15.825 5.689 OAK 26.097 21.817 4.280 CAR 13.111 10.600 2.511 CIN 8.986 7.017 1.969 NYG 28.125 26.175 1.950

Stock Falling

Team Week 8 Average Week 9 Average Difference PHI 18.597 23.383 -4.786 ATL 21.444 25.300 -3.856 NYJ 18.597 22.075 -3.478 PIT 23.792 25.908 -2.116 MIA 17.472 19.342 -1.870

Subjective Average

Subjective Chiefs 1 1 1 4 1 1 2 1 4 2 2 5 2.083 -0.500 Seahawks 4 2 2 1 3 2 4 2 2 3 1 2 2.333 -0.250 Broncos 2 3 4 2 4 4 1 3 1 1 3 1 2.417 0.666 Saints 5 5 3 3 2 5 3 4 5 4 4 3 3.833 0.250 Colts 3 4 7 6 5 3 5 5 3 5 6 7 4.917 -0.417 49ers 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 5.750 0.250 Bengals 7 7 6 8 7 8 7 7 8 7 8 8 7.333 0.084 Packers 8 8 9 7 8 7 9 8 7 8 7 4 7.500 0.083 Patriots 9 9 8 10 9 9 8 9 10 9 9 9 9.000 -0.333 Lions 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 10.000 1.583 Chargers 11 12 14 15 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 12 12.000 0.333 Cowboys 13 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 14 11 13 11 12.167 -2.000 Panthers 12 14 13 11 13 13 12 14 9 13 12 14 12.500 4.167 Bears 14 13 12 14 15 15 14 11 17 15 14 15 14.083 -0.666 Ravens 15 19 15 13 16 14 15 16 13 14 15 13 14.833 0.000 Cardinals 17 17 16 16 17 19 16 17 16 19 16 21 17.250 7.333 Titans 18 15 18 17 18 20 17 18 19 17 21 17 17.917 0.083 Jets 16 16 17 18 14 18 18 21 28 18 17 18 18.250 -3.833 Dolphins 19 21 28 19 20 16 19 15 15 16 19 16 18.583 -1.083 Raiders 22 24 24 21 19 17 20 20 18 22 18 25 20.833 6.250 Bills 20 18 22 20 22 23 22 22 25 20 20 24 21.500 -1.583 Browns 21 28 27 24 29 22 21 19 20 21 26 23 23.417 -0.250 Redskins 24 20 26 22 21 28 28 27 22 27 23 26 24.500 -0.833 Eagles 26 26 20 23 28 21 24 23 29 23 25 28 24.667 -4.917 Rams 25 27 21 29 24 25 23 24 23 24 24 29 24.833 0.917 Texans 28 22 19 26 27 29 25 25 21 25 29 22 24.833 -0.500 Falcons 23 23 25 25 26 26 26 29 24 26 28 19 25.000 -3.667 Giants 29 25 23 27 23 24 27 26 27 29 22 27 25.750 2.833 Steelers 27 29 29 28 25 27 29 28 26 28 27 20 26.917 -4.000 Vikings 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30.000 0.000 Buccaneers 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.083 0.084 Jaguars 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 31.917 -0.084

Observations:

Hey neat, Chargers climbed a little.

Chiefs nearly beaten by the Browns? Better knock them down a little. Better knock the Seahawks down a little more too.

Denver overcame a deficit again? Move 'em on up!

The top 12 teams are perfectly alternating AFC-NFC

On the whole, there's Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville. Everyone else is significantly better.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Vikings 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 0.000 0.000 Buccaneers 31 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 0.276 -0.097 Jaguars 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 0.276 -0.097 Lions 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 10 0.408 -0.630 49ers 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 0.433 0.025 Patriots 9 9 8 10 9 9 8 9 10 9 9 9 0.577 0.106 Bengals 7 7 6 8 7 8 7 7 8 7 8 8 0.624 -0.238 Seahawks 4 2 2 1 3 2 4 2 2 3 1 2 0.943 -0.011 Cowboys 13 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 14 11 13 11 0.986 0.433 Saints 5 5 3 3 2 5 3 4 5 4 4 3 0.986 0.124 Broncos 2 3 4 2 4 4 1 3 1 1 3 1 1.187 0.149 Chargers 11 12 14 15 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 12 1.225 -0.830 Packers 8 8 9 7 8 7 9 8 7 8 7 4 1.258 0.143 Colts 3 4 7 6 5 3 5 5 3 5 6 7 1.382 -0.061 Chiefs 1 1 1 4 1 1 2 1 4 2 2 5 1.382 0.428 Panthers 12 14 13 11 13 13 12 14 9 13 12 14 1.384 -1.395 Titans 18 15 18 17 18 20 17 18 19 17 21 17 1.498 -0.738 Bears 14 13 12 14 15 15 14 11 17 15 14 15 1.498 0.383 Cardinals 17 17 16 16 17 19 16 17 16 19 16 21 1.534 -0.401 Ravens 15 19 15 13 16 14 15 16 13 14 15 13 1.625 0.162 Bills 20 18 22 20 22 23 22 22 25 20 20 24 1.893 -0.397 Giants 29 25 23 27 23 24 27 26 27 29 22 27 2.241 1.601 Rams 25 27 21 29 24 25 23 24 23 24 24 29 2.303 -0.645 Steelers 27 29 29 28 25 27 29 28 26 28 27 20 2.397 -0.232 Falcons 23 23 25 25 26 26 26 29 24 26 28 19 2.483 0.234 Raiders 22 24 24 21 19 17 20 20 18 22 18 25 2.511 0.620 Eagles 26 26 20 23 28 21 24 23 29 23 25 28 2.718 0.672 Redskins 24 20 26 22 21 28 28 27 22 27 23 26 2.723 0.837 Texans 28 22 19 26 27 29 25 25 21 25 29 22 3.105 0.124 Browns 21 28 27 24 29 22 21 19 20 21 26 23 3.201 0.757 Jets 16 16 17 18 14 18 18 21 28 18 17 18 3.345 1.591 Dolphins 19 21 28 19 20 16 19 15 15 16 19 16 3.451 0.355

Observations:

Minnesota is once again your unanimous pick at #30

Pretty good consensus of where the top 12 teams are (Chargers amongst those teams)

4 teams with a Standard Deviation greater than 3. All 4 in the AFC.

Usually it's the teams ranked in the teens that are the most inconsistent. This week it's almost all teams in the 20s.

Objective Average

Objective Seahawks 2 3 1 1 2 4 2 1 1 1 1.800 0.200 Broncos 1 2 2 2 8 2 1 8 2 5 3.300 -0.300 49ers 8 4 4 5 4 6 3 6 5 2 4.700 1.633 Colts 3 8 6 3 1 5 4 5 7 8 5.000 -0.222 Chiefs 10 12 3 6 7 3 8 4 3 3 5.900 -1.344 Saints 7 6 8 7 6 7 7 2 6 4 6.000 -0.556 Packers 9 5 5 4 9 9 5 9 4 7 6.600 -0.489 Bengals 5 1 7 10 3 10 10 7 8 6 6.700 3.856 Panthers 4 10 13 9 20 1 6 3 11 10 8.700 0.856 Lions 12 7 9 11 11 8 11 11 10 11 10.100 1.789 Cowboys 11 11 10 8 13 14 9 12 9 12 10.900 -1.678 Patriots 13 17 11 14 5 11 13 10 12 9 11.500 1.278 Chargers 15 15 12 12 14 13 12 15 13 14 13.500 -2.056 Cardinals 14 14 14 15 10 16 15 17 14 15 14.400 4.044 Bears 6 20 15 18 24 12 18 13 16 13 15.500 0.056 Titans 20 23 16 17 12 17 16 14 17 17 16.900 0.989 Ravens 19 29 17 13 16 15 14 16 15 16 17.000 -0.222 Bills 17 22 20 21 15 18 21 24 23 19 20.000 0.889 Browns 21 16 18 19 21 27 19 19 20 20 20.000 3.000 Dolphins 22 26 26 16 17 19 17 22 18 18 20.100 -2.656 Eagles 24 9 28 24 19 21 24 20 25 27 22.100 -4.656 Raiders 28 28 19 23 23 22 22 18 21 24 22.800 2.311 Texans 29 19 24 22 18 26 26 23 22 22 23.100 1.567 Rams 26 27 22 20 29 23 20 28 19 21 23.500 1.722 Redskins 30 24 21 25 22 20 23 26 24 23 23.800 -1.689 Steelers 16 18 25 28 26 28 27 25 28 28 24.900 -0.233 Falcons 18 25 29 27 28 29 25 21 29 25 25.600 -4.044 Jets 23 21 23 30 27 24 31 27 27 26 25.900 -3.122 Giants 31 13 27 26 25 30 28 31 26 29 26.600 1.067 Vikings 25 30 30 29 30 31 29 30 30 30 29.400 -0.067 Buccaneers 27 32 32 31 32 25 30 29 31 31 30.000 -1.333 Jaguars 32 31 31 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 31.700 -0.589

Observations:

Seattle retains the top spot, and in fact moved up a little.

Denver actually dropped slightly this week.

Kansas City may be undefeated, but they average a ranking of 6th. Football Outsiders has them at 10th and Team Efficiency at 12th.

Chargers dropped nearly 2 spots on average this week. Likely thanks to past opponents getting weaker (Eagles, Cowboys, Jaguars), and also the teams that played this week are playing better.

Vikings, Buccaneers and Jaguars all moved down this week.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Jaguars 32 31 31 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 0.458 -1.271 Seahawks 2 3 1 1 2 4 2 1 1 1 0.980 -0.074 Chargers 15 15 12 12 14 13 12 15 13 14 1.204 -0.629 Lions 12 7 9 11 11 8 11 11 10 11 1.513 -0.619 Vikings 25 30 30 29 30 31 29 30 30 30 1.562 0.407 49ers 8 4 4 5 4 6 3 6 5 2 1.616 -1.650 Saints 7 6 8 7 6 7 7 2 6 4 1.673 -1.160 Cardinals 14 14 14 15 10 16 15 17 14 15 1.744 -2.853 Cowboys 11 11 10 8 13 14 9 12 9 12 1.814 0.417 Packers 9 5 5 4 9 9 5 9 4 7 2.107 0.910 Colts 3 8 6 3 1 5 4 5 7 8 2.191 0.203 Buccaneers 27 32 32 31 32 25 30 29 31 31 2.236 -1.030 Broncos 1 2 2 2 8 2 1 8 2 5 2.571 0.745 Bills 17 22 20 21 15 18 21 24 23 19 2.646 -1.712 Redskins 30 24 21 25 22 20 23 26 24 23 2.676 -0.928 Browns 21 16 18 19 21 27 19 19 20 20 2.720 -0.407 Titans 20 23 16 17 12 17 16 14 17 17 2.844 -1.027 Bengals 5 1 7 10 3 10 10 7 8 6 2.900 -0.875 Jets 23 21 23 30 27 24 31 27 27 26 3.015 -1.991 Patriots 13 17 11 14 5 11 13 10 12 9 3.041 -1.644 Chiefs 10 12 3 6 7 3 8 4 3 3 3.113 0.442 Raiders 28 28 19 23 23 22 22 18 21 24 3.124 -0.833 Texans 29 19 24 22 18 26 26 23 22 22 3.145 -1.401 Falcons 18 25 29 27 28 29 25 21 29 25 3.499 -1.050 Rams 26 27 22 20 29 23 20 28 19 21 3.500 0.310 Dolphins 22 26 26 16 17 19 17 22 18 18 3.506 -3.196 Steelers 16 18 25 28 26 28 27 25 28 28 4.134 0.190 Ravens 19 29 17 13 16 15 14 16 15 16 4.290 -0.489 Bears 6 20 15 18 24 12 18 13 16 13 4.696 0.477 Giants 31 13 27 26 25 30 28 31 26 29 4.964 0.345 Eagles 24 9 28 24 19 21 24 20 25 27 5.147 1.034 Panthers 4 10 13 9 20 1 6 3 11 10 5.255 1.062

Observations:

AFC was most inconsistent in the Subjective Standard Deviation, it's the NFC's turn in the Objective Standard Deviation list.

Remember me telling you a few weeks ago that the Panthers just needed to get it together? 7 of 10 sites have them ranked in the top 10. Aikman has them 1st, Football Outsiders 4th. Don't sleep on the Panthers.

Chargers are third most consistently-ranked team in Objective stats.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Seahawks 2.333 1.800 2.067 -0.025 Broncos 2.417 3.300 2.858 0.184 Chiefs 2.083 5.900 3.992 -0.923 Saints 3.833 6.000 4.917 -0.153 Colts 4.917 5.000 4.958 -0.319 49ers 5.750 4.700 5.225 0.942 Bengals 7.333 6.700 7.017 1.969 Packers 7.500 6.600 7.050 -0.203 Lions 10.000 10.100 10.050 1.686 Patriots 9.000 11.500 10.250 0.472 Panthers 12.500 8.700 10.600 2.511 Cowboys 12.167 10.900 11.533 -1.839 Chargers 12.000 13.500 12.750 -0.861 Bears 14.083 15.500 14.792 -0.306 Cardinals 17.250 14.400 15.825 5.689 Ravens 14.833 17.000 15.917 -0.111 Titans 17.917 16.900 17.408 0.536 Dolphins 18.583 20.100 19.342 -1.870 Bills 21.500 20.000 20.750 -0.347 Browns 23.417 20.000 21.708 1.375 Raiders 20.833 22.800 21.817 4.280 Jets 18.250 25.900 22.075 -3.478 Eagles 24.667 22.100 23.383 -4.786 Texans 24.833 23.100 23.967 0.533 Redskins 24.500 23.800 24.150 -1.261 Rams 24.833 23.500 24.167 1.319 Falcons 25.000 25.600 25.300 -3.856 Steelers 26.917 24.900 25.908 -2.116 Giants 25.750 26.600 26.175 1.950 Vikings 30.000 29.400 29.700 -0.033 Buccaneers 31.083 30.000 30.542 -0.625 Jaguars 31.917 31.700 31.808 -0.336

Observations:

Seattle retains the top crown, Broncos still second; the gap is narrowing though.

Chiefs slipping.

The Patriots sure are getting a lot of flak for being a top-10 team. You'd think they were playing as bad as Jacksonville the way the media portrays them.

7 of the bottom 10 teams are NFC teams, including 3 of the 4 NFC East teams. In fact, all 4 AFC West teams outrank those 3 NFC East teams.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Jaguars 31.917 31.700 0.386 -0.834 Seahawks 2.333 1.800 0.996 -0.003 Lions 10.000 10.100 1.065 -0.543 Vikings 30.000 29.400 1.095 0.270 49ers 5.750 4.700 1.250 -0.917 Chargers 12.000 13.500 1.427 -0.584 Cowboys 12.167 10.900 1.557 0.448 Buccaneers 31.083 30.000 1.614 -0.872 Saints 3.833 6.000 1.723 -0.355 Packers 7.500 6.600 1.756 0.394 Colts 4.917 5.000 1.796 0.092 Broncos 2.417 3.300 1.992 0.562 Bengals 7.333 6.700 2.033 -0.958 Cardinals 17.250 14.400 2.163 -2.357 Titans 17.917 16.900 2.271 -0.776 Bills 21.500 20.000 2.386 -0.985 Patriots 9.000 11.500 2.436 -1.262 Redskins 24.500 23.800 2.724 -0.138 Raiders 20.833 22.800 2.972 -0.143 Rams 24.833 23.500 2.984 -0.081 Falcons 25.000 25.600 3.003 -0.428 Chiefs 2.083 5.900 3.010 0.614 Texans 24.833 23.100 3.240 -0.497 Ravens 14.833 17.000 3.312 -0.143 Bears 14.083 15.500 3.427 0.351 Browns 23.417 20.000 3.442 0.683 Steelers 26.917 24.900 3.451 0.080 Dolphins 18.583 20.100 3.557 -1.416 Giants 25.750 26.600 3.757 0.661 Panthers 12.500 8.700 4.144 -0.789 Eagles 24.667 22.100 4.208 0.900 Jets 18.250 25.900 4.974 -0.468

Observations:

8 of the 10 most consistently-ranked teams overall are NFC teams. 2 are AFC teams: Jaguars and Chargers. Of course the Jaguars are the most consistent, but it's surprising seeing the Chargers at 6th.

Other than that, this list jives pretty well with which teams are playing consistently well or poor.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Jets 18.250 25.900 7.650 -0.711 Chiefs 2.083 5.900 3.817 0.845 Patriots 9.000 11.500 2.500 -1.611 Ravens 14.833 17.000 2.167 0.222 Saints 3.833 6.000 2.167 0.806 Raiders 20.833 22.800 1.967 3.939 Dolphins 18.583 20.100 1.517 1.573 Chargers 12.000 13.500 1.500 2.389 Bears 14.083 15.500 1.417 -0.722 Broncos 2.417 3.300 0.883 0.966 Giants 25.750 26.600 0.850 1.767 Falcons 25.000 25.600 0.600 0.378 Lions 10.000 10.100 0.100 -0.206 Colts 4.917 5.000 0.083 -0.195 Jaguars 31.917 31.700 -0.217 0.505 Seahawks 2.333 1.800 -0.533 -0.450 Vikings 30.000 29.400 -0.600 0.067 Bengals 7.333 6.700 -0.633 -3.772 Redskins 24.500 23.800 -0.700 0.856 Packers 7.500 6.600 -0.900 0.572 Titans 17.917 16.900 -1.017 -0.906 49ers 5.750 4.700 -1.050 -1.383 Buccaneers 31.083 30.000 -1.083 1.417 Cowboys 12.167 10.900 -1.267 -0.322 Rams 24.833 23.500 -1.333 -0.805 Bills 21.500 20.000 -1.500 -2.472 Texans 24.833 23.100 -1.733 -2.066 Steelers 26.917 24.900 -2.017 -3.767 Eagles 24.667 22.100 -2.567 -0.261 Cardinals 17.250 14.400 -2.850 3.289 Browns 23.417 20.000 -3.417 -3.250 Panthers 12.500 8.700 -3.800 3.311

Observations:

Wow, are the Jets way over-ranked. And their over-ranking got better this week!

Chiefs fans have been crying for respect in the various Power Rankings, pointing to the team's record. Well, Kansas City is still overrated.

I've been harping all season that the Panthers were much better than the perception was. I'm glad to see them finally proving me right.

While it's fun to dump on the Eagles, maybe they're not as bad as they seem?

Sources