2019 NFL power rankings, Week 10: Dolphins win, Patriots don’t

Recap: Losers of three straight contests, Freddie Kitchens’ mistake-prone club hit the road for the fourth time in five games as the Browns visited Denver for the second straight year. Baker Mayfield and company did not commit a turnover for the first time this season. But the club struggled to reach the end zone despite gaining 351 total yards and controlling the clock for 35:30 – settling for four field goals and scoring their only touchdown of the day early in the fourth quarter. The Browns’ shaky defense gave up its share of big plays both on the ground and through the air. Quarterback Baker Mayfield would throw for 273 yards and one score in the club’s latest setback.

Next Week: The Browns host the Buffalo Bills for the first time since 2013 looking to snap a brief two-game skid in this series. While both of those losses came at Orchard Park in 2014 and ’16, respectively, the Browns did prevail the last time the teams met in Cleveland courtesy of a 37-24 victory on a Thursday evening six seasons ago.

Playoff hopes: Kitchens’ club has now dropped four consecutive games since that impressive Week 4 victory at Baltimore. The offense remains problem plagued and inconsistent while the Browns’ defensive unit continues to disappoint as well. So are there changes ahead for a team whose 2019 season may be spiraling out of control?

Recap: It’s been a very disappointing start for the defending NFC North champions, who took a three-game losing streak into their clash with the Eagles at Philadelphia. This 2018 playoff rematch saw a dismal effort by the Bears, who with 3:05 before halftime had minus-10 total yards and finished with nine total yards by halftime. But Matt Nagy’s club would rally from a 19-0 third-quarter hole and get within five points with less than 13 minutes to play. But it was another disappointing performance for the team on both sides of the football. While the Bears’ offense continues to sputter, the once-feared Chicago defense allowed 146 yards on the ground in this latest setback.

Next Week: The Bears play host to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the first of two meetings between these longtime rivals this year. A year ago, Chicago came up with its first season sweep of this series since 2012, posting a 34-22 victory at Soldier Field in Week 10, followed by a 23-16 win in the Motor City on Thanksgiving (Week 12).

Playoff hopes: It’s a team headed in the wrong direction as the formula that led to 12 wins and a division title a season ago has seemingly been misplaced. The defense has become susceptible to the run and the Bears’ offense just doesn’t have the firepower to get the job done with limited possessions. The losing streak has reached four.

Next: Nos. 24 and 23