The “American Idol” results were surprising this week ... but shouldn’t have been.

Jessica Sanchez, a favorite of the judges all season, received the fewest number of votes. Of course, she wasn’t actually eliminated, a decision that became somewhat less dramatic when Steven Tyler took a look at the bottom three -- Jessica, Joshua Ledet and Elise Testone-- and told Ryan Seacrest that the judges would be using their one save of the season. Still, Jessica didn’t have to sing her exit song for more than a few seconds before Jennifer Lopez led the judges on stage to make it official.

Few would have predicted the bottom three vote-getters. Jessica hadn’t been in that position all season, and the praise bestowed on her has gotten more and more lavish each week. (Given her struggles Thursday, expect the judges to literally toss roses to her when she performs next time.) Joshua was at his best when he covered Bruno Mars, so it’s hard to figure what the voters didn’t like about that one. And Elise ... well, OK. She’s in danger every week, so the fact that she was in trouble again was predictable. Not everything can be a shock.

Many thought Hollie Cavanagh was a sure bet to go. She wasn’t even close. That likely can be credited to her fans redoubling their efforts to vote given her obvious vulnerability this week, but few would have though that the teenager in trouble would have been Jessica instead of her.

But here’s why Jessica’s poor performance in the voting this week is less surprising than you’d think: Though she’s a very good technical singer and has a powerful voice, she also has some flaws that past judges might have already recognized and compelled her to correct.