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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MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 22: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in action during the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 22: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in action during the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Jacksonville Jaguars. 28. team. 52. . 0-0. Previous:

Preview: The disappointing Blake Bortles Era came to an end as the team moved on from the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Enter Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles, who spent the past two years with the Philadelphia Eagles and wound up starting a total of five postseason games for the Birds. Jacksonville’s offense slipped in many aspects this past season comment – especially the ground attack as running back Leonard Fournette was available for only eight games. Meanwhile, the defense also struggled to recapture its 2017 magic – the catalyst for the team’s playoff run that year. The addition of first-round edge rusher Josh Allen already looks like a solid move.

Next Week: Marrone’s club plays host to the reigning AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch from a season ago. In Week 5 at Arrowhead Stadium, the Jaguars were humbled by Andy Reid’s explosive club, 30-14. All told, Jacksonville has now dropped four straight in this series dating back to 2010 (by a combined 119-50 score).

Playoff hopes: The defense could return to its big-play form of 2017 thanks to the addition of Allen. The club still needs to prove that is can defend the run a lot better, a necessity in the AFC South these days. But there are still lots of question marks offensively? And can the Jaguars be competitive within the division once again?

New York Giants. 27. team. 31. . 0-0. Previous:

Preview: There was some improvement shown a year ago during head coach Pat Shurmur’s debut season with Big Blue as the Giants improved from three wins to a 5-11 mark in 2018. General manager Dave Gettleman continued to overhaul the roster this offseason- sending wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and pass-rusher Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns for draft choices and players such as right guard Kevin Zeitler and safety Jabrill Peppers. The team drafted three players in the first round, including quarterback Daniel Jones. The latter was a surprise choice at the sixth overall spot but he enjoyed a very promising preseason. But Eli Manning remains at the controls.

Next Week: For the sixth time in eight years dating back to 2012, the Giants will kick off the season against their divisional rivals from the Lone Star State. As for some recent history, Big Blue has dropped their last four meetings with the Dallas Cowboys. And the Giants are only 1-6 in their last seven visits to AT&T Stadium dating back to ‘12.

Playoff hopes: The Giants played better football during the second half of 2018 but still closed the year with three consecutive losses and wound up in the NFC East basement for the second straight year. Still, there were some strides made after a rough ‘17 despite a 5-11 record. But were there enough to challenge for a division title?

Next: Nos. 26 and 25