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

Recap: In rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew’s first start, his team and the host Texans settled for a combined four field goals and two touchdowns by game’s end. The Jaguars were down 6-3 at halftime and Doug Marrone’s team hung around all afternoon, limiting Houston’s explosive offense to 263 total yards while sacking Deshaun Watson four times.

Minshew drove his club down the field in the final minutes and his legs bailed out the club on numerous occasions. His four-yard TD toss to wide receiver D.J. Chark with 30 seconds to play suggested the teams were headed to overtime. But Marrone opted to play for the win and Leonard Fournette’s two-point run came up short.

Next Week: Marrone’s team returns home but only has a few days to prepare for a Titans team that has given the Jaguars fits for years. Jacksonville has dropped four straight and six of the last seven meetings dating back to the clubs’ second clash in 2015. In those last four losses, the Jaguars have been outdone by a combined 91-41 score.

Playoff hopes: It was a weekend in which all four AFC South teams were in action against each other. And while every club has at least one loss this season, the Jaguars are the only one of the bunch with two losses. Dating back to last season, Marrone’s squad is just 1-5 vs. their division rivals. The club is now just 2-12 in its last 14 contests.

Recap: After squandering a double-digit lead in an eventual 32-27 loss at Philadelphia last week, the Redskins once again got off to a good start and owned a 7-0 second-quarter lead against the visiting Cowboys. But Washington’s defense wound up being overwhelmed for a second straight Sunday.

Greg Manusky’s unit was rolled for 474 total yards and that included 213 via the ground. The ‘Skins pass rush produced only one sack and allowed Dallas to convert seven of their 11 attempts on third down. Rookie wide receiver Terry McClaurin has been the team’s brightest spot to date in terms of the offense. But once again, the Redskins’ running game would be a non-factor.

Next Week: The Redskins host the Bears on Monday night. It’s the first meeting between the clubs since 2016 but the first time the teams will meet at FedExField since ‘13. Washington has dominated this series for well over a decade, prevailing in seven straight encounters since 2004, the latest a 41-21 win at Chicago three years ago.

Playoff hopes: Gruden’s club is 0-2 for the second time in four years and a team that opened 2018 with six wins in its first nine outings is now 1-8 in its last nine games. It’s worth noting that Washington did score first in each of their first two games vs. the Eagles and Cowboys. The Redskins are 3-11 vs. NFC East rivals dating back to 2017.

Next: Nos. 28 and 27