Fansided

2019 NFL power rankings; Patriots back on top…again

By Russell S. Baxter

FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 22: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) on the sideline during a preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers on August 22, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 22: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) on the sideline during a preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers on August 22, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 24: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass in the first quarter of an NFL preseason game between the San Francisco 49’ers and Kansas City Chiefs on August 24, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 24: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass in the first quarter of an NFL preseason game between the San Francisco 49’ers and Kansas City Chiefs on August 24, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. team. 124. . 0-0. Previous: . Kansas City Chiefs

Preview: Despite scoring the third-most points in one season in NFL history, boasting the league’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Patrick Mahomes and earning the top seed in the conference playoffs, it all went for naught in 2018 as Andy Reid’s club came up short of a Super Bowl appearance. Which is why there’s a new defensive coordinator in Kansas City (Steve Spagnuolo) and plenty of new faces to play the 4-3. From defensive ends Frank Clark and Alex Okafor to linebackers Damien Wilson and Darron Lee and safety Tyrann Mathieu. It’s the latter group that must come together fast if the Chiefs are to make some postseason noise.

Next Week: The reigning AFC West champions head to Jacksonville for the first time since 2013 looking to extend their recent success in this series. A year ago at Arrowhead Stadium (Week 5), Reid’s club handled the Jaguars, 30-14. It was Kansas City’s fourth straight win in the series. The clubs have split their dozen previous meetings (6-6).

Playoff hopes: Dating back to his arrival in Kansas City in 2013, the Chiefs have posted six straight winning seasons under Reid and have reached the playoffs four consecutive years – the second-longest active streak in the league behind the Patriots (10). They certainly have enough offense to make it five in a row, but will they stop people?

Previous: . Philadelphia Eagles. 3. team. 54. . 0-0

Preview: Doug Pederson’s team seeks a third consecutive trip to the playoffs and will look for a little more consistency this fall. After winning the Super Bowl in 2017, it took the Eagles more than half of last season to win two games in a row. And it took five victories in their final six outings for the Birds to finish 9-7 and capture a wild card berth. Carson Wentz enters his fourth NFL season looking to stay on the field for 16 games, something he hasn’t done since his rookie year in ‘16. General manager Howie Roseman brought back former Eagles such as wide receiver DeSean Jackson and defensive end Vinny Curry and traded for running back Jordan Howard (Bears).

Next Week: Philadelphia begins 2019 the same way they wrapped up the regular season a year ago. Only this time, the Eagles host the rival Redskins – a team they blanked last season (24-0) at Washington in Week 17. In fact, the Birds have prevailed in the last four meetings between the clubs dating back to ‘17 (by a combined 116-54 score).

Playoff hopes: This is an Eagles’ team that seeks a third consecutive trip to the playoffs. The roster is deep in many regards but there are still some question marks, most notably in the secondary. The club is set in the trenches on both sides of the ball. That’s good news for a club that parlayed that strength into a Super Bowl title in 2017.

Next: Nos. 2 and 1