2019 NFL power rankings, Week 9: Eagles rebound, Panthers humbled
4-4. Previous: . Jacksonville Jaguars. 16. team. 52.
Recap: Doug Marrone’s squad looked to make it four wins in their last six games (after a 0-2 start) when they hosted the New York Jets for a second consecutive season. And the Jaguars rolled up 389 total yards thanks to a balanced attack that featured 34 running plays and 36 pass plays. Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew continued to impress although his lost fumble was Jacksonville’s lone turnover of the game. Meanwhile, he threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Lambo missed his first PAT of the afternoon but rebounded with three field goals. And the Jaguars’ defense totaled eight sacks of Sam Darnold, who was also picked off three times.
Next Week: The Jaguars make another trip to London and this time around, look to avoid being swept by the Texans for the second straight year. In Week 2 at Houston, Marrone’s team scored a fourth-quarter touchdown with 30 seconds to play but failed on a possible game-winning two-point conversion attempt in a 13-12 loss.
Playoff hopes: Kudos to this improving team that won a game it was expected to win and did it in impressive fashion. The Jaguars are certainly right in the mix for the AFC South title and it’s worth noting that Marrone’s club has yet to face the first-place Colts this season. Next week’s trip to London shapes up as a huge opportunity.
4-4. Previous: . Philadelphia Eagles. 15. team. 54.
Recap: The reeling Eagles were on the road for a third consecutive week and took on one of the better defensive units in the league in the 5-1 Buffalo Bills. But you would have never known that the home team had limited each five of its first six opponents to 17 points or less. Led by Jordan Howard, the Philadelphia ground attack rolled up 218 yards and got touchdowns from Howard, rookie Miles Sanders and reserve Boston Scott. Carson Wentz was sacked three times but also threw for 172 yards and one score. Meanwhile, the Birds limited Buffalo’s running game to 98 yards, sacked second-year pro, Josh Allen, four times and recovered one of his three fumbles.
Next Week: The struggling Bears head to Philadelphia for the second time in three years as these 2018 postseason foes from a year ago clash for the fourth consecutive season. Of course, Chicago came up short in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs at Soldier Field, 16-15. It marked the Bears’ fourth straight loss to the Eagles dating back to 2013.
Playoff hopes: Pederson’s team had an opportunity to get back to the .500 mark and certainly seized the moment. Philadelphia’s offensive front came up big against one of the better defenses in the league and the Birds once again came up with the kind of performance many were expecting. But can the team string some wins together?
Next: Nos. 14 and 13