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NFL power rankings: 2019 edition – Patriots finish on top, again

By Russell S. Baxter

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 30: New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys on December 30, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 30: New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys on December 30, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

23. New York Giants (5-11)

4th Place, NFC East

Season Review: New head coach Pat Shurmur and the club opened 1-7 before settling in and splitting their final eight games – including an overtime victory over the playoff-bound Bears. The team was without wideout Odell Beckham Jr. for much of the year again but NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Saquon Barkley was exceptional. He led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage (2,028), was second in rushing yards (1,307) and scored 15 of the team’s 36 offensive touchdowns. Eli Manning again had his issues but was sacked 47 times. The Giants’ defense remained iffy but the team did make strides overall.

2018 Turning Point: What could have been for Big Blue? New York bounced back after losing seven of their first eight contests with a 4-1 midseason run. But it was the loss in the middle of that stretch, a 25-22 setback at Philadelphia, in which Shurmur’s club squandered a 19-3 second-quarter lead.

2019 Priorities: It will be interesting to see if general manager Dave Gettleman continues to unload some of the team’s defensive talent, as was the case with Damon Harrison and Eli Apple last October. Can the team get talented strong safety Landon Collins re-signed or would the Giants use the franchise tag?

Next: No. 22

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