2019 NFL power rankings, Week 5: Browns impress, Falcons regress
2-2. Previous: . Tennessee Titans. 18. team. 35.
Recap: The club’s 30-point win at Cleveland on opening weekend was followed by a pair of disheartening losses, both within the division. Now the Titans hit the road for the third time in four weeks and took on a talented but inconsistent Atlanta Falcons team.
Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota threw three first-half touchdown passes — two to rookie wideout A.J. Brown — as Mike Vrabel’s club took a 24-7 lead at intermission. Entering this contest, Mariota had been sacked a league-high 17 times after three weeks but was not dropped by the Atlanta defense. Derrick Henry added 27 carries for 100 yards and the Titans played turnover-free ball in a key win.
Next Week: Vrabel’s club is at home for just the second time this season and takes on the improving Bills in a series that has had its amazing moments, especially in the playoffs. But it’s also worth noting that each of the last three meetings between these clubs has been decided by one point, the latest at 13-12 Titans loss at Buffalo in ’18.
Playoff hopes: A week and a half after being throttled by the Jaguars on a Thursday night, the Titans played a very complete game and suddenly every team in the division owns a 2-2 record. Coordinator Dean Pees’ defensive unit enjoyed another solid outing and Mariota played his best game of the year. What a difference 10 days can make.
2-2. Previous: . Indianapolis Colts. 17. team. 46.
Recap: The Colts managed to win back-to-back close games the previous two weeks after falling to the Chargers at Los Angeles in overtime in Week 1. They took on the struggling Oakland Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 4 and had their issues defensively as Matt Eberflus’ unit was stung early on to the tune of 217 total yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
Indianapolis’ defenders managed only one sack of Derek Carr and allowed 188 yards on the ground. Playing without T.Y. Hilton, quarterback Jacoby Brissett did throw for 265 yards and three scores. But he also served up a pick-six late in the fourth quarter. Frank Reich’s club managed only 81 yards rushing on 23 attempts.
Next Week: It’s a postseason rematch on a Sunday evening at Arrowhead Stadium as the resilient Colts return to the site of where their 2018 season finally came to an end. Reich’s club clashes with Andy Reid’s explosive Kansas City Chiefs. A year ago in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, Indianapolis wound up on the short end of a 31-13 outcome.
Playoff hopes: Reich’s team dug itself an early hole which it never climbed out of. And it was a very disappointing performance from Eberflus’ defensive unit (albeit minus Darius Leonard) that was arguably the biggest factor. Fortunately for the Colts, it was a pretty rough afternoon for more than one team in the competitive AFC South.
Next: Nos. 16 and 15