2019 NFL power rankings, Week 4: Saints rise, Chargers slide

Recap: Kliff Kingsbury’s squad was seeking its first win of the season as the Cardinals were at home for the second time in three weeks. The team would take on the Panthers, who were under the command of quarterback Kyle Allen as Cam Newton was nursing a foot injury. And Vance Joseph’s defensive unit looked helpless against a Carolina team that had its issues against the Buccaneers in Week 2. The team’s inability to prevent opposing offenses from exploiting the middle of their defense has become an early-season problem and it reared its ugly head too often on Sunday. And Murray was on the run all afternoon, rushing for 69 yards while being sacked eight times.

Next Week: For the third time in four games, Kingsbury’s team is at home and this time around will be battling their first NFC West foe of the season in Pete Carroll’s Seahawks. A year ago, Arizona was swept in this series for the first time since 2014. And the Cardinals are 0-5-1 in their last six home games in this series dating back to 2013.

Playoff hopes: The last time this franchise reached the postseason was 2015. These days, the Cardinals are mired in a stretch that has seen the team mired in a 3-15-1 slump in its last 19 outings dating back to the start of last season. And simply put, Kingsbury’s squad is the only club in the NFC West without a winning record in 2019.

Recap: For the second time in four years, Jay Gruden’s team is off to a 0-2 start. And things don’t get any easier on Monday night as Case Keenum and the Redskins’ attack will have to deal with a Chicago Bears team that allowed a combined 24 points in a split with the Packers and Broncos. On the other hand, Washington’s defense has had its issues early on. Greg Manusky’s unit has already been bludgeoned for eight offensive touchdowns (six through the air) and the ‘Skins have allowed 63 points. The pass rush has produced only two sacks and Washington defenders have been smacked for 336 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, quarterback Case Keenum has been solid to date.

Next Week: The ‘Skins face their third divisional opponent in four games as they travel to New Jersey to take on the new-look Giants. The teams have split their two-game set each of the past four seasons. And the Redskins have come away with road wins in this series two of the past three years, including a 20-13 victory (Week 8) in 2018.

Playoff hopes: It’s been a rough start for a team that was bitten hard by the quarterback injury bug last year. Now the Redskins are not only winless but both defeats came at the hands of their NFC East rivals. These next two games are very important to Gruden’s club, which can’t afford to fall too much further back of the Cowboys.

Next: Nos. 28 and 27