That one stung, didn't it? No, that's not what she said, I'm talking about this week's loss to the Chiefs. Something is seriously off with this Chargers team, and no one seems to be able to put their finger on it. Was it the shortened off-season? Is it the new coaches? Did the players all work out incorrectly during the lockout? Who knows?

This was a certainly a week of shake-up. Plenty of surprise victories and losses — the Chargers notwithstanding in that group. On average, the Chargers dropped about 6 spots this week compared to last week. I can only imagine the immense cluster of dumbfounded pundits and fans alike should the Chargers pull off a victory against the Packers on Sunday.

Notable Quotes

Fox Sports

Philip Rivers doesn't look like the Rivers we are used to. After Monday night's OT loss to the Chiefs, he leads the NFL in interceptions thrown (11) and the Chargers are in a three-way tie for the divisional lead. Too bad for them, they face the Packers, while both the Raiders and Chiefs have favorable matchups in Week 9.

Sports Illustrated

If the Chargers thought the fourth-quarter meltdown at the Jets was painful, how to describe the late-game self-destruction in Kansas City Monday night? The Halloween cliches must have been flying fast and furiously in the press box. San Diego's lack of killer instinct is still readily apparent, and now here come back-to-back short-week games against the powerful Packers and the talented Raiders. The Chargers' season is officially on the brink.

Reddit

The AFC West Champions asserted their dominance tonight. To look at the numbers, you would think that San Diego was the better team, however that was not the case. Play calling has become predictable, too many injuries on key players, and a quarterback who frankly is a shadow of himself.

Subjective Average

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Steelers 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 2.417 0.493 49ers 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 5 4 7 2 2 3.167 1.463 Patriots 5 4 7 4 5 4 5 4 3 6 4 4 4.583 1.038 Ravens 4 5 5 6 4 7 4 3 5 3 6 7 4.917 1.320 Lions 8 10 8 5 7 5 8 8 6 4 7 5 6.750 1.689 Bills 7 6 6 13 6 10 6 10 8 8 8 6 7.833 2.115 Giants 9 11 4 10 9 6 9 7 7 5 10 8 7.917 2.060 Saints 6 7 11 8 8 9 7 6 9 11 5 9 8.000 1.826 Texans 11 8 9 7 11 12 10 9 10 10 11 11 9.917 1.382 Bengals 14 16 12 15 10 8 11 13 11 9 9 10 11.500 2.432 Falcons 12 9 10 11 18 15 12 12 12 12 19 13 12.917 2.871 Bears 10 14 16 12 17 13 13 16 15 14 13 12 13.750 1.920 Jets 13 12 19 9 15 17 14 15 13 13 12 14 13.833 2.444 Chargers 15 13 14 19 16 18 16 11 14 18 16 17 15.583 2.216 Eagles 16 15 18 14 12 19 15 14 17 16 18 16 15.833 1.908 Buccaneers 19 17 17 16 19 14 19 17 16 17 14 15 16.667 1.700 Chiefs 18 19 13 17 13 16 17 19 20 15 15 19 16.750 2.278 Raiders 17 20 15 18 14 11 18 18 19 20 17 18 17.083 2.499 Cowboys 21 18 20 20 21 20 20 21 21 19 21 21 20.250 0.924 Titans 20 22 21 21 20 23 21 20 18 21 20 20 20.583 1.187 Vikings 23 23 25 22 22 21 22 22 24 24 25 25 23.167 1.344 Panthers 25 21 23 23 23 22 23 23 25 26 26 22 23.500 1.555 Redskins 22 24 22 24 24 24 25 26 23 25 22 24 23.750 1.233 Browns 24 25 24 26 25 25 26 25 22 22 23 23 24.167 1.344 Jaguars 26 27 26 30 26 28 24 24 26 23 24 26 25.833 1.863 Broncos 28 26 28 29 30 27 28 27 28 27 29 28 27.917 1.038 Seahawks 27 29 27 25 29 29 27 28 27 30 30 27 27.917 1.441 Rams 29 28 29 28 27 26 29 29 29 28 27 29 28.167 0.986 Cardinals 30 30 30 27 28 30 30 30 30 29 28 30 29.333 1.027 Dolphins 31 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 32 31 31.167 0.373 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 31 32 31.833 0.373

Observations:

Steelers knocked off the Patriots and are now the top team in the AFC.

Who expected the 49ers to be the next-best team after the Packers at any point this season? Not this guy.

The Chargers are perfectly average now

Miami and Indianapolis: terrible.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000 Dolphins 31 31 31 31 31 32 31 31 31 31 32 31 31.167 0.373 Colts 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 32 31 32 31.833 0.373 Steelers 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 2.417 0.493 Cowboys 21 18 20 20 21 20 20 21 21 19 21 21 20.250 0.924 Rams 29 28 29 28 27 26 29 29 29 28 27 29 28.167 0.986 Cardinals 30 30 30 27 28 30 30 30 30 29 28 30 29.333 1.027 Patriots 5 4 7 4 5 4 5 4 3 6 4 4 4.583 1.038 Broncos 28 26 28 29 30 27 28 27 28 27 29 28 27.917 1.038 Titans 20 22 21 21 20 23 21 20 18 21 20 20 20.583 1.187 Redskins 22 24 22 24 24 24 25 26 23 25 22 24 23.750 1.233 Ravens 4 5 5 6 4 7 4 3 5 3 6 7 4.917 1.320 Browns 24 25 24 26 25 25 26 25 22 22 23 23 24.167 1.344 Vikings 23 23 25 22 22 21 22 22 24 24 25 25 23.167 1.344 Texans 11 8 9 7 11 12 10 9 10 10 11 11 9.917 1.382 Seahawks 27 29 27 25 29 29 27 28 27 30 30 27 27.917 1.441 49ers 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 5 4 7 2 2 3.167 1.463 Panthers 25 21 23 23 23 22 23 23 25 26 26 22 23.500 1.555 Lions 8 10 8 5 7 5 8 8 6 4 7 5 6.750 1.689 Buccaneers 19 17 17 16 19 14 19 17 16 17 14 15 16.667 1.700 Saints 6 7 11 8 8 9 7 6 9 11 5 9 8.000 1.826 Jaguars 26 27 26 30 26 28 24 24 26 23 24 26 25.833 1.863 Eagles 16 15 18 14 12 19 15 14 17 16 18 16 15.833 1.908 Bears 10 14 16 12 17 13 13 16 15 14 13 12 13.750 1.920 Giants 9 11 4 10 9 6 9 7 7 5 10 8 7.917 2.060 Bills 7 6 6 13 6 10 6 10 8 8 8 6 7.833 2.115 Chargers 15 13 14 19 16 18 16 11 14 18 16 17 15.583 2.216 Chiefs 18 19 13 17 13 16 17 19 20 15 15 19 16.750 2.278 Bengals 14 16 12 15 10 8 11 13 11 9 9 10 11.500 2.432 Jets 13 12 19 9 15 17 14 15 13 13 12 14 13.833 2.444 Raiders 17 20 15 18 14 11 18 18 19 20 17 18 17.083 2.499 Falcons 12 9 10 11 18 15 12 12 12 12 19 13 12.917 2.871

Observations:

Let's throw out the 4 top teams in this list as they are the two teams at the bounds of the range.

There is significant agreement that the Cowboys are a bottom-third team.

Confidence in the Patriots is really beginning to falter.

Atlanta, and the three first-place teams in the AFC West are all over the map.

Objective Average

Objective Packers 1 2 1 1 3 1.600 0.800 49ers 3 12 2 2 1 4.000 4.050 Bills 4 8 7 4 5 5.600 1.625 Lions 13 10 4 3 2 6.400 4.317 Patriots 5 7 8 5 8 6.600 1.357 Bears 15 15 5 6 7 9.600 4.454 Ravens 6 11 14 10 10 10.200 2.561 Steelers 11 4 9 12 15 10.200 3.655 Bengals 12 22 6 9 4 10.600 6.312 Eagles 16 3 11 11 12 10.600 4.224 Saints 7 5 15 7 24 11.600 7.088 Jets 2 14 17 14 13 12.000 5.177 Texans 8 1 13 13 25 12.000 7.849 Falcons 14 24 3 8 11 12.000 7.014 Cowboys 9 6 18 15 14 12.400 4.317 Giants 10 9 20 20 6 13.000 5.865 Chargers 24 13 16 17 16 17.200 3.655 Buccaneers 19 32 12 16 9 17.600 7.965 Chiefs 23 23 10 18 17 18.200 4.792 Raiders 18 18 19 19 18 18.400 0.490 Titans 17 16 22 21 28 20.800 4.262 Redskins 21 17 25 23 19 21.000 2.828 Vikings 20 25 21 22 20 21.600 1.855 Panthers 22 20 28 24 26 24.000 2.828 Jaguars 28 21 24 25 27 25.000 2.450 Seahawks 27 29 23 26 21 25.200 2.857 Rams 32 19 29 30 23 26.600 4.842 Browns 25 28 26 28 29 27.200 1.470 Cardinals 30 27 30 29 22 27.600 3.007 Broncos 26 30 27 27 30 28.000 1.673 Dolphins 29 26 32 31 31 29.800 2.135 Colts 31 31 31 32 32 31.400 0.490

Observations:

Hmmm, Packers? Yep, they're good.

Colts? Yep, they're terrible.

Chargers are average again.

Chiefs and Raiders are still below them … for now.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective Colts 31 31 31 32 32 31.400 0.490 Raiders 18 18 19 19 18 18.400 0.490 Packers 1 2 1 1 3 1.600 0.800 Patriots 5 7 8 5 8 6.600 1.357 Browns 25 28 26 28 29 27.200 1.470 Bills 4 8 7 4 5 5.600 1.625 Broncos 26 30 27 27 30 28.000 1.673 Vikings 20 25 21 22 20 21.600 1.855 Dolphins 29 26 32 31 31 29.800 2.135 Jaguars 28 21 24 25 27 25.000 2.450 Ravens 6 11 14 10 10 10.200 2.561 Redskins 21 17 25 23 19 21.000 2.828 Panthers 22 20 28 24 26 24.000 2.828 Seahawks 27 29 23 26 21 25.200 2.857 Cardinals 30 27 30 29 22 27.600 3.007 Steelers 11 4 9 12 15 10.200 3.655 Chargers 24 13 16 17 16 17.200 3.655 49ers 3 12 2 2 1 4.000 4.050 Eagles 16 3 11 11 12 10.600 4.224 Titans 17 16 22 21 28 20.800 4.262 Cowboys 9 6 18 15 14 12.400 4.317 Lions 13 10 4 3 2 6.400 4.317 Bears 15 15 5 6 7 9.600 4.454 Chiefs 23 23 10 18 17 18.200 4.792 Rams 32 19 29 30 23 26.600 4.842 Jets 2 14 17 14 13 12.000 5.177 Giants 10 9 20 20 6 13.000 5.865 Bengals 12 22 6 9 4 10.600 6.312 Falcons 14 24 3 8 11 12.000 7.014 Saints 7 5 15 7 24 11.600 7.088 Texans 8 1 13 13 25 12.000 7.849 Buccaneers 19 32 12 16 9 17.600 7.965

Observations:

Wow. Objectively speaking, the Raiders are very consistently ranked across the board. Just means they may not be as good as some hype suggests.

Houston and Tampa Bay are all over the board. I realize different sites measure different metrics, but the Texans have a 24-position swing. Tampa Bay has a 23-position swing.

Even when it comes to the Standard Deviation scale, the Chargers are decidedly average.

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj Packers 1.000 1.600 1.300 0.513 0.600 49ers 3.167 4.000 3.583 2.545 0.833 Patriots 4.583 6.600 5.592 1.465 2.017 Steelers 2.417 10.200 6.308 4.084 7.783 Lions 6.750 6.400 6.575 2.743 -0.350 Bills 7.833 5.600 6.717 2.229 -2.233 Ravens 4.917 10.200 7.558 2.993 5.283 Saints 8.000 11.600 9.800 4.452 3.600 Giants 7.917 13.000 10.458 4.299 5.083 Texans 9.917 12.000 10.958 4.513 2.083 Bengals 11.500 10.600 11.050 4.008 -0.900 Bears 13.750 9.600 11.675 3.466 -4.150 Falcons 12.917 12.000 12.458 4.524 -0.917 Jets 13.833 12.000 12.917 3.577 -1.833 Eagles 15.833 10.600 13.217 3.675 -5.233 Cowboys 20.250 12.400 16.325 4.345 -7.850 Chargers 15.583 17.200 16.392 2.817 1.617 Buccaneers 16.667 17.600 17.133 4.569 0.933 Chiefs 16.750 18.200 17.475 3.294 1.450 Raiders 17.083 18.400 17.742 2.199 1.317 Titans 20.583 20.800 20.692 2.519 0.217 Redskins 23.750 21.000 22.375 2.235 -2.750 Vikings 23.167 21.600 22.383 1.672 -1.567 Panthers 23.500 24.000 23.750 2.028 0.500 Jaguars 25.833 25.000 25.417 2.088 -0.833 Browns 24.167 27.200 25.683 1.955 3.033 Seahawks 27.917 25.200 26.558 2.323 -2.717 Rams 28.167 26.600 27.383 2.844 -1.567 Broncos 27.917 28.000 27.958 1.259 0.083 Cardinals 29.333 27.600 28.467 2.007 -1.733 Dolphins 31.167 29.800 30.483 1.352 -1.367 Colts 31.833 31.400 31.617 0.456 -0.433

Observations:

Packers: yep. Colts: yep.

If not for the Buccaneers, the three first-place AFC West teams would have made the perfect trifecta of mediocraty.

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj Colts 31.833 31.400 31.617 0.456 -0.433 Packers 1.000 1.600 1.300 0.513 0.600 Broncos 27.917 28.000 27.958 1.259 0.083 Dolphins 31.167 29.800 30.483 1.352 -1.367 Patriots 4.583 6.600 5.592 1.465 2.017 Vikings 23.167 21.600 22.383 1.672 -1.567 Browns 24.167 27.200 25.683 1.955 3.033 Cardinals 29.333 27.600 28.467 2.007 -1.733 Panthers 23.500 24.000 23.750 2.028 0.500 Jaguars 25.833 25.000 25.417 2.088 -0.833 Raiders 17.083 18.400 17.742 2.199 1.317 Bills 7.833 5.600 6.717 2.229 -2.233 Redskins 23.750 21.000 22.375 2.235 -2.750 Seahawks 27.917 25.200 26.558 2.323 -2.717 Titans 20.583 20.800 20.692 2.519 0.217 49ers 3.167 4.000 3.583 2.545 0.833 Lions 6.750 6.400 6.575 2.743 -0.350 Chargers 15.583 17.200 16.392 2.817 1.617 Rams 28.167 26.600 27.383 2.844 -1.567 Ravens 4.917 10.200 7.558 2.993 5.283 Chiefs 16.750 18.200 17.475 3.294 1.450 Bears 13.750 9.600 11.675 3.466 -4.150 Jets 13.833 12.000 12.917 3.577 -1.833 Eagles 15.833 10.600 13.217 3.675 -5.233 Bengals 11.500 10.600 11.050 4.008 -0.900 Steelers 2.417 10.200 6.308 4.084 7.783 Giants 7.917 13.000 10.458 4.299 5.083 Cowboys 20.250 12.400 16.325 4.345 -7.850 Saints 8.000 11.600 9.800 4.452 3.600 Texans 9.917 12.000 10.958 4.513 2.083 Falcons 12.917 12.000 12.458 4.524 -0.917 Buccaneers 16.667 17.600 17.133 4.569 0.933

Observations:

Denver pops up at the top of the list for once, but just because they're consistely terrible. Tebow be damned.

Chargers still middle-of-the-pack on everything.

What's most interesting about Tampa Bay here is they're the most inconsistently-ranked team, but the averages are very close to each other.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj Steelers 2.417 10.200 6.308 4.084 7.783 Ravens 4.917 10.200 7.558 2.993 5.283 Giants 7.917 13.000 10.458 4.299 5.083 Saints 8.000 11.600 9.800 4.452 3.600 Browns 24.167 27.200 25.683 1.955 3.033 Texans 9.917 12.000 10.958 4.513 2.083 Patriots 4.583 6.600 5.592 1.465 2.017 Chargers 15.583 17.200 16.392 2.817 1.617 Chiefs 16.750 18.200 17.475 3.294 1.450 Raiders 17.083 18.400 17.742 2.199 1.317 Buccaneers 16.667 17.600 17.133 4.569 0.933 49ers 3.167 4.000 3.583 2.545 0.833 Packers 1.000 1.600 1.300 0.513 0.600 Panthers 23.500 24.000 23.750 2.028 0.500 Titans 20.583 20.800 20.692 2.519 0.217 Broncos 27.917 28.000 27.958 1.259 0.083 Lions 6.750 6.400 6.575 2.743 -0.350 Colts 31.833 31.400 31.617 0.456 -0.433 Jaguars 25.833 25.000 25.417 2.088 -0.833 Bengals 11.500 10.600 11.050 4.008 -0.900 Falcons 12.917 12.000 12.458 4.524 -0.917 Dolphins 31.167 29.800 30.483 1.352 -1.367 Rams 28.167 26.600 27.383 2.844 -1.567 Vikings 23.167 21.600 22.383 1.672 -1.567 Cardinals 29.333 27.600 28.467 2.007 -1.733 Jets 13.833 12.000 12.917 3.577 -1.833 Bills 7.833 5.600 6.717 2.229 -2.233 Seahawks 27.917 25.200 26.558 2.323 -2.717 Redskins 23.750 21.000 22.375 2.235 -2.750 Bears 13.750 9.600 11.675 3.466 -4.150 Eagles 15.833 10.600 13.217 3.675 -5.233 Cowboys 20.250 12.400 16.325 4.345 -7.850

Observations:

Woot! The Chargers two averages now are more in line with each other. Only problem is, they've fallen enough that their subjective ranking now matches the objective ranking. We were kind of hoping for the opposite there ...

So the Steelers knock off the Patriots and everyone jumps on their bandwagon. It may be premature, or it just may be that the objective stats haven't caught up to the Steelers yet.

There is still hope being held out for the Ravens, Giants and Browns.

People are so quick to dismiss the Cowboys. Apparently looks can be deceiving here, same story with the Eagles and Bears.

Sources