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

By Russell S. Baxter

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams looks to pass in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams looks to pass in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 15, 2019: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Denver Broncos loos for a receiver during the first quarter of the game on on Sunday, September 15th at Empower Field at Mile High. The Denver Broncos hosted the Chicago Bears for the game. Photo by Eric Lutzens/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 15, 2019: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Denver Broncos loos for a receiver during the first quarter of the game on on Sunday, September 15th at Empower Field at Mile High. The Denver Broncos hosted the Chicago Bears for the game. Photo by Eric Lutzens/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images /

45. . 0-2. Previous: . Denver Broncos. 22. team

Recap: Vic Fangio welcomed his former employer to the Mile High City as the Broncos looked to avoid the franchise’s first 0-2 start since 1999. Denver took a five-game losing streak (dating back to ‘18) into this clash with the defending NFC North champions and it looked like that would end on Sunday as Joe Flacco threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to wideout Emanuel Sanders and then hit him for the two-point conversion as the team took a 14-3 lead with 31 seconds to play. But the defense didn’t put a lot of heat on Bears’ quarterback Mitch Trubisky all afternoon. He guided the club into field goal range and Eddy Peneiro broke Denver’s heart as time expires.

Next Week: The Broncos make their way to Lambeau Field for the first time since 2011 as these one-time Super Bowl foes clash for the first time since ’15. That season in Denver, the home club emerged with a 29-10 Sunday night win. But it’s interesting to note that the Broncos are winless (0-5-1) lifetime on the road in this series.

Playoff hopes: Since opening the 2016 season with four wins, the Broncos are just 16-30 in their last 46 outings and have now dropped six in a row dating back to last season, including three straight at home. While Flacco and the offense are still trying to find themselves, Fangio’s defense does not have a sack in their first two contests.

28. . 1-1. Previous: . Oakland Raiders. 21. team

Recap: Off of last Monday’s win over the Denver Broncos, the Silver and Black hosted an AFC West foe for the second time in seven days. But the Raiders owned a dismal 2-10 record vs. Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs dating back to 2013 entering Sunday’s meeting.

After jumping out to a 10-0 first-quarter advantage, Jon Gruden’s club obviously got the attention of the defending division champions. Oakland would not score another point while Kansas City exploded for four second-quarter touchdowns. And after quarterback Derek Carr was not sacked and played turnover-free football in the Monday night win over Denver, he was picked off twice and dropped three times.

Next Week: Gruden’s club hits the road for the first time this season and makes its way to the Twin Cities to face the Vikings for the first time since 2015. Four years ago, the Raiders fell at home to Mike Zimmer’s club, 30-14. Meanwhile, the Silver and Black’s last appearance in Minnesota resulted in a 27-21 victory eight years ago.

Playoff hopes: After winning just three games within the division the previous two seasons, Gruden’s club did manage a split vs. the Broncos and Chiefs. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther obviously still has a lot of work to do as Mahomes burned the Raiders for a slew of chunk pass plays. Now the team hits the road after a 1-1 start.

Next: Nos. 20 and 19

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