2019 NFL power rankings, Week 7: 49ers jump, Cowboys slump

Recap: One week after being rocked at home by the Indianapolis Colts on a Sunday evening, Andy Reid’s talented Chiefs got off to a fast start against the visiting Texans and opened up a 17-3 first-quarter advantage. The Chiefs also had the benefit of forcing Houston into a pair of first-half turnovers. But the club would watch the visitors answer with 20 straight points in the second quarter and suddenly Reid’s club was down by six. The Chiefs would take a one-point lead into the final quarter but the second half really belonged to the Texans as Steve Spagnuolo’s defense gave up a total of 192 yards rushing – more than half of that (116) in the team’s final 20 minutes.

Next Week: It’s a short week for the reigning AFC West champions as they head to Denver for a Thursday evening tilt looking to continue their recent dominance of the rival Broncos. Dating back to the club’s second encounter in 2015, the Chiefs have won seven consecutive games in this series – including four straight in the Mile High City.

Playoff hopes: From winners of their first four games to consecutive home losses. Reid’s imbalanced club thought they found some answers on defense this offseason and the coaching staff is still scratching their headsets. The Chiefs don’t have a lot of time this week to fix things. Can the club stop the bleeding after two straight setbacks?

Recap: It’s been a solid five-game stretch for this physical football that was bolstered in the trenches during the offseason, primarily through free agency. While second-year quarterback Josh Allen continues to be a little rough around the edges and has had his problems with ball security (9 turnovers), the Bills’ ground attack has been much-improved thanks to ageless running back Frank Gore and an improved offensive line. Buffalo’s defense has been fearsome in all aspects and Sean McDermott’s club has limited each of its five opponents to 17 points or less. Buffalo has allowed only seven offensive touchdowns while forcing eight turnovers during the club’s 4-1 start.

Next Week: Buffalo returns from a week off and hosts the Miami Dolphins. As for this series’ recent history, the Bills have gotten the best of this rivalry in recent years, most notably at home. Dating back to 2013, the team from Orchard Park owns an 8-4 record in this series. But a year ago, both clubs came up with victories at home.

Playoff hopes: Back in 2017, the Bills made their first playoff appearance of the century. The club still hasn’t won a division title or postseason game since 1995. So far, McDermott’s club is hanging around when it comes to the AFC East race and who knows how the rest of 2019 will play out. This club has gotten the rest of the NFL’s attention.

Next: Nos. 6 and 5