NFL Power Rankings, Week 16: Bears celebrating, Patriots fading

Recap: Losers of four consecutive games after a 6-3 start, the slumping Washington Redskins made their way south to Jacksonville to take on a Jaguars’ team that was embarrassed more than a week ago at Nashville. Josh Johnson would get the start at quarterback for Jay Gruden’s squad and he and the offense were kept under wraps for the vast majority of the afternoon. But the ‘Skins rolled up 104 of their 245 total yards in the final stages of the fourth quarter, as Johnson found tight end Jeremy Sprinkle for a six-yards touchdown and Dustin Hopkins booted a 36-yard field goal on the last play of the game to end Washington’s slump.

Next Week: It’s a Saturday afternoon trip to Nashville for Gruden’s team, who will face the Tennessee Titans for the first time since 2014. The franchises have split 12 previous meetings in a series that dates back to 1971. Washington has prevailed in three of the last four clashes dating back to ’02, including two straight at Tennessee.

Playoff hopes: With the Cowboys losing at Indianapolis, the Redskins still have a chance to win the NFC East despite their recent issues. It was an ugly win on Sunday but the club is just one game behind Dallas for the top spot in the division. And stranger things have certainly happened down the stretch in this league.

Next: No. 18