2019 NFL power rankings, Week 3: 49ers roll, Texans survive

Recap: Even with more than a week to prepare, Matt Nagy’s offense struggled for the second consecutive game. The Bears managed only 273 total yards, only 19 more than they racked up in the 10-3 home loss to the Packers. Chicago finally reached the end zone for the first and only time this season thanks to a one-yard touchdown run by rookie David Montgomery. The defense let Denver take the lead with 31 seconds to play, shades of the 2018 home playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Once again, resourceful quarterback Mitch Trubisky put the team in position to win with a field goal. This time, newcomer Eddy Peneiro delivered on a 52-yard field boot on the final play.

Next Week: The Bears make their second prime time appearance in three weeks as Nagy’s squad heads to FedExField for a Monday night tilt with the Redskins. It’s the team’s first appearance in D.C. since 2013. The road has not been kind to the Bears in this series, dropping seven of their last eight at Washington dating back to 1989.

Playoff hopes: It was important that the Bears came away with a road win after last week’s setback to the Packers at Soldier Field. Nagy’s team has a very interesting stretch ahead. It’s off to Washington for a Monday night clash with the Redskins, a home tilt with the Vikings followed by a trip overseas to London to face the Oakland Raiders.

Recap: The suddenly-opportunistic 49ers were back in the Eastern time zone for a second straight Sunday as they took on the Bengals in the Queen City. And after some early offensive issues in last week’s win at Tampa, the Niners’ attack moved the ball at will against the Cincinnati defense. When it was all said and done in Cincinnati, Kyle Shanahan’s club amassed 572 total yards, with running back Matt Breida coming up with 121 of the club’s 259 rushing yards. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo did thrown another interception but also connected for three scores and 297 yards through the air. And San Francisco’s offensive line did not allow a sack in the blowout victory.

Next Week: It’s a series that has been dominated by the home team as of late. It’s the fifth meeting between the 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers dating back to 2003, with the clubs splitting the last four encounters — all won by the home team. San Francisco came away with a 20-3 Monday night triumph in ‘11 when they last hosted the series.

Playoff hopes: Shanahan’s squad has impressed out of the gate and head home with a pair of road victories and the club’s first 2-0 start since the Super Bowl XLVII campaign of 2012. The team now has two home games in three weeks (off in Week 4) before traveling to Los Angeles to face the Rams. It’s been a strong start, to say the least.

Next: Nos. 12 and 11