2019 NFL power rankings, Week 7: 49ers jump, Cowboys slump
Los Angeles Rams. 16. team. 51. . 3-3. Previous:
Recap: Losers of two straight games after a 3-0 start, the well-rested Rams had more than a week to prepare for the visiting 4-0 49ers. Quarterback Jared Goff came into the game having turned over the ball eight times in his previous three games. And Sean McVay’s club would be without running back Todd Gurley for this divisional showdown. And even though Los Angeles would take an early 7-0 lead on an eight-yard run by wide receiver Robert Woods, they wouldn’t score another point the rest of the afternoon. McVay’s team was limited to 165 total yards and 10 first downs. The Rams failed to convert on either third (0-9) on fourth (0-4) in this latest setback.
Next Week: The Rams return to the site of their Super Bowl LIII loss to take on the struggling Atlanta Falcons. It’s the first meeting between the teams since 2017, when the clubs clashed in Los Angeles and Atlanta handed McVay’s squad a 26-13 loss in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs. It was the Rams’ fifth straight setback in this series.
Playoff hopes: From winning their first three games to suddenly finding themselves closer to last place in the NFC West than the top spot. A team that finished 13-3 in 2018 and was a perfect 6-0 vs. their divisional rivals is now 3-3 and 0-2 vs. their three NFC West foes. Can McVay find some answers before the season spirals out of control?
team. 123. . 3-3. Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 15
Recap: After opening the year with three straight wins, Jason Garrett’s club entered Sunday’s clash with the New York Jets at East Rutherford having dropped consecutive games to the formidable Saints and Packers, respectively. And the slump reached three straight after the Cowboys fell behind the winless Jets by 18 points in the second quarter. Once again, Dallas’ defense disappointed in a big way as they watched New York quarterback Sam Darnold – playing for the first time since Week 1 – throw for 338 yards and two scores. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 105 yards and one TD and Dak Prescott threw for 277 yards. But Garrett’s club apparently dug itself too big of a hole.
Next Week: It’s always a spirited game when the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles collide. This meeting will be in prime time at Arlington. Dallas swept this series for the first time since 2012. In fact, including a 6-0 win at Philadelphia on the final Sunday of 2017, the Cowboys have won the last three games in this intense rivalry.
Playoff hopes: The good news for the ‘Boys is the fact that every team in the NFC East lost in Week 6 with the exception of the Redskins. The bad news is that Garrett’s team has suddenly lost its way on defense and dug itself big holes in their last two games. The club’s offensive line issues don’t help but Sunday’s loss was pretty shocking.
Next: Nos. 14 and 13