2019 NFL power rankings, Week 2: Ravens roll, Eagles rally

Recap: In 2018, no team turned over the football more often than the Buccaneers. And 17 of their 35 miscues were via interceptions (14) and lost fumbles (3) by quarterback Jameis Winston, who wasn’t even available for the entire season. With new head coach Bruce Arians in the fold, the talented signal-caller and his team was hoping to get off to a good start at home against a 49ers’ team that struggled to forced turnovers in 2018. But Winston served up three interceptions – two returned for scores – and tight end O.J. Howard lost a fumble in a 14-point loss. The Tampa Bay defense deserved a better fate, limiting the Niners to 256 yards and one offensive touchdown.

Next Week: It’s a short week for Winston and the Buccaneers as they make the short trip north to Carolina to face the NFC South rival Panthers. The teams have split their last six meetings dating back to 2016, this after Tampa dropped six straight this rivalry. A year ago, the clubs split their two-game set for the first time since 2008.

Playoff hopes: Only the Cleveland Browns (2002) have waited longer to get back to the postseason than the Buccaneers. But Arians’ team will be hard-pressed to make any kind of playoff run if you can’t hang onto the football on a consistent basis. It doesn’t get easier against the Panthers, especially with limited time to prepare.

Recap: Off the team’s worst season since 2000, the Cardinals welcomed the Lions to the desert for the second straight year. And a team that was dead last in the league across the board in terms of offense gained 58 total yards on its first 39 offensive plays. And then before you could say Kliff Kingsbury, Heisman Trophy winner and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray got hot and rallied the team from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit. The rookie signal-caller finished with 308 yards through the air (1 interception) and touchdowns to David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, respectively. But Kingsbury’s debut as an NFL head coach resulted in a tie when the smoke cleared.

Next Week: Kingsbury’s club heads east to Baltimore as the Cardinals renew acquaintances with the Ravens for the first time since 2015. That season, Arizona snapped a four-game losing streak in this infrequent interconference series with a 26-18 home victory. All told, the Cards own a 2-4 lifetime record in a setting that dates back to 1997.

Playoff hopes: Some may call it a moral victory after a season in which the club won only three games. But the bottom line is that after one week of play, the Cardinals are the only team in the division without a victory. So can this team pick up where it left off in the fourth quarter and overtime and carry that into Baltimore next week?

Next: Nos. 28 and 27