jjflr
12-15-2005, 06:58 AM
Division Rankings--Week 14
"Top Heavy and Bottom Heavy"
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/DisplayNFLSHIELDbw_710059_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=715&c=60) We have a pretty good picture of the season at this point and below is a breakdown of each division and it's strength this year.
The analysis looks at the division as a whole. For instance, it is not assumed that just because the Colts are in the AFC South, it should be the #1 division.
I have included each division's record outside of it's own division. Also included are Jeff Sagarin's division rankings based on mean average and my weekly power rankings based on simple average.
This week's division rankings are a story of the 'Top 2' and the 'Bottom 2'. The AFC West and NFC East are far and away the best 2 divisions in the NFL. And on the other end, the AFC East and NFC West are by far the worst 2 divisions.
They other 4 divisions are just 'stuck in the middle'.
1) AFC WEST --
Sagarin mean: 24.45 (1st)
jjflr average: 19.85 (1st)
Record outside of division: 21-13 .618 (1st)
Sagarin and I both have 3 of the AFC West teams in our top 10's. This division came back to earth somewhat in week 14, going 1-3 in outside the division play but they are still the best, without question.
2) NFC EAST --
Sagarin mean: 23.46 (2nd)
jjflr average: 18.16 (2nd)
Record outside of division: 20-14 .588 (2nd)
The NFC East remains strong and has closed the gap for #1 again over the past couple of weeks.
3) NFC SOUTH --
Sagarin Mean: 20.47 (4th)
jjflr average: 16.28 (3rd)
Record outside of division: 21-15 .583 (3rd)
This division is clearly 'the best of the rest' but the Saints drag them down so far. Still, with 3 teams in the playoff hunt, they are solid.
4) AFC SOUTH --
Sagarin Mean: 20.16 (5th) 3rd in simple average, though
jjflr average: 16.11 (4th)
Record outside of division: 17-15 .531 (4th)
Colts are carrying this division but the Jaguars might make the playoffs also with their favorable schedule. Their bottom 2 is among the worst in the NFL, though.
5) AFC NORTH --
Sagarin Mean: 20.48 (3rd)
jjflr average: 14.50 (5th)
Record outside of division: 16-16 .500 (5th)
All teams are competitive in this division. They don't really have a 'horrible' team.
6) NFC NORTH --
Sagarin Mean: 18.40 (6th)
jjflr average: 13.12 (6th)
Record outside of division: 14-18 .438 (6th)
The NFC North is at the bottom of 'the middle-class', but is clearly above the bottom 2 divisions, especially with the resurgence of the Vikings.
7) NFC WEST --
Sagarin Mean: 15.83 (8th)
jjflr average: 12.01 (7th)
Record outside of division: 11-19 .367 (7th)
The NFC West is giving the AFC East every chance in the world to avoid the distinction of being "the worst division in 2005". This is a one-team division and the other 3 are really bad.
8) AFC EAST --
Sagarin Mean: 16.00 (7th)
jjflr average: 10.46 (8th)
Record outside of division: 13-23 .361 (8th)
They're catching up with the NFC West due to the fact that the Dolphins and Patriots are playing well the last few weeks (plus, even the J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets! won this weekend).
"Top Heavy and Bottom Heavy"
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/DisplayNFLSHIELDbw_710059_thumb.gif (http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=715&c=60) We have a pretty good picture of the season at this point and below is a breakdown of each division and it's strength this year.
The analysis looks at the division as a whole. For instance, it is not assumed that just because the Colts are in the AFC South, it should be the #1 division.
I have included each division's record outside of it's own division. Also included are Jeff Sagarin's division rankings based on mean average and my weekly power rankings based on simple average.
This week's division rankings are a story of the 'Top 2' and the 'Bottom 2'. The AFC West and NFC East are far and away the best 2 divisions in the NFL. And on the other end, the AFC East and NFC West are by far the worst 2 divisions.
They other 4 divisions are just 'stuck in the middle'.
1) AFC WEST --
Sagarin mean: 24.45 (1st)
jjflr average: 19.85 (1st)
Record outside of division: 21-13 .618 (1st)
Sagarin and I both have 3 of the AFC West teams in our top 10's. This division came back to earth somewhat in week 14, going 1-3 in outside the division play but they are still the best, without question.
2) NFC EAST --
Sagarin mean: 23.46 (2nd)
jjflr average: 18.16 (2nd)
Record outside of division: 20-14 .588 (2nd)
The NFC East remains strong and has closed the gap for #1 again over the past couple of weeks.
3) NFC SOUTH --
Sagarin Mean: 20.47 (4th)
jjflr average: 16.28 (3rd)
Record outside of division: 21-15 .583 (3rd)
This division is clearly 'the best of the rest' but the Saints drag them down so far. Still, with 3 teams in the playoff hunt, they are solid.
4) AFC SOUTH --
Sagarin Mean: 20.16 (5th) 3rd in simple average, though
jjflr average: 16.11 (4th)
Record outside of division: 17-15 .531 (4th)
Colts are carrying this division but the Jaguars might make the playoffs also with their favorable schedule. Their bottom 2 is among the worst in the NFL, though.
5) AFC NORTH --
Sagarin Mean: 20.48 (3rd)
jjflr average: 14.50 (5th)
Record outside of division: 16-16 .500 (5th)
All teams are competitive in this division. They don't really have a 'horrible' team.
6) NFC NORTH --
Sagarin Mean: 18.40 (6th)
jjflr average: 13.12 (6th)
Record outside of division: 14-18 .438 (6th)
The NFC North is at the bottom of 'the middle-class', but is clearly above the bottom 2 divisions, especially with the resurgence of the Vikings.
7) NFC WEST --
Sagarin Mean: 15.83 (8th)
jjflr average: 12.01 (7th)
Record outside of division: 11-19 .367 (7th)
The NFC West is giving the AFC East every chance in the world to avoid the distinction of being "the worst division in 2005". This is a one-team division and the other 3 are really bad.
8) AFC EAST --
Sagarin Mean: 16.00 (7th)
jjflr average: 10.46 (8th)
Record outside of division: 13-23 .361 (8th)
They're catching up with the NFC West due to the fact that the Dolphins and Patriots are playing well the last few weeks (plus, even the J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets! won this weekend).