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

Recap: Following a lopsided home loss to San Francisco, the Bengals shuffled off to Buffalo to take on the unbeaten Bills. Cincinnati’s defense was overrun by the Niners the previous Sunday to the tune of 571 total yards in a 24-point loss at home. The team wasn’t much better early on at Orchard Park as Zac Taylor’s squad was outgained 257-76 and trailed 14-0 at halftime. But Cincinnati hung tough and early in the fourth quarter, took the lead with 4:54 to play. But the club’s shaky defense couldn’t stop the Bills late in the contest. By game’s end, the Bengals allowed 416 total yards. And Taylor’s team would finish the afternoon with four costly turnovers.

Next Week: It’s a prime time appearance in the Steel City as the team takes on the rival Steelers on Monday night. It’s been a rough stretch for the Bengals when it comes to this long-time series. Including two home losses to Pittsburgh in 2015 — one of those in the AFC Wild Card playoffs — Cincinnati has dropped eight straight to the Black and Gold.

Playoff hopes: Five straight playoff appearances have been followed by three losing consecutive seasons. And now the team is off to a 0-3 start for the second time in three years. The defense has been awful these last two games and has proven to be the club’s undoing. The Bengals are 2-12 in their last 14 games after last year’s 4-1 start.

Recap: Off to a 0-2 start for the second time in four years, the Jaguars hosted the rival Titans and were looking to end a four-game losing streak in the setting which saw the team outscored a combined 91-41 in the process. But Doug Marrone’s club would jump out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead thanks to a pair of touchdown pass from rookie Gardner Minshew, the first set up by a muffed punt. The Jacksonville pass rush was relentless, dropping Titans’ quarterback Marcus Mariota nine times, seven of those by veteran Calais Campbell (3), third-year pro Dawuane Smoot (2) and rookie Josh Allen (2). During the team’s 0-2 start, the Jaguars had zero takeaways and sacks.

Next Week: Marrone’s club has some extra time to prepare for its next opponent as the Jaguars head to the Mile High City for the first time since 2013. That visit six years ago resulted in a 35-19 loss to the Broncos, dropping the Jaguars’ lifetime road record in this series (which includes a pair of playoff meetings in 1996 and ‘97) to 3-4.

Playoff hopes: After giving up 40 points in their Week 1 home loss to the Chiefs, the Jaguars’ defense has settled in and allowed a combined 20 points in a five-day span in the split with the Texans and Titans. And ending the club’s recent losing ways to Tennessee was big for Marrone’s team, which suddenly looks like a more confident squad.

Next: Nos. 26 and 25