2019 NFL power rankings, Week 11: Steelers jumping, Chiefs slumping
team. 13. . 4-6. Previous: . Los Angeles Chargers. 20
Recap: The Chargers were in Oakland on Thursday night with an opportunity to even their win-loss record on the season. But the Bolts would fall behind 10-0 in the first quarter as quarterback Philip Rivers had his problems against the Oakland pass rush throughout the evening. By game’s end, he was sacked five times and threw three interceptions. But he also led his club on a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to give his club a 24-20 lead with a little over four minutes to play. However, the Los Angeles’ defense failed to stop Derek Carr and the Raiders down the stretch and Rivers was unable to rescue Anthony Lynn’s club from its sixth loss of the season.
Next Week: The Bolts are the home team when they host the Kansas City Chiefs in Mexico City in a Monday night clash between these traditional rivals. Last season on a Thursday evening at Arrowhead Stadium (Week 15), the Chargers snapped a nine-game losing streak to Andy Reid’s team courtesy of a thrilling 29-28 victory.
Playoff hopes: The AFC is somewhat jumbled and even though the Bolts have already lost two more games than they did in 2018, the Chargers are still in the playoff picture. A win over the first-place Chiefs in Mexico City would be huge for a lot of different reasons. Lynn’s team is hanging around but it needs to start stringing together wins.
19. team. 52. . 4-5. Previous: . Jacksonville Jaguars
Recap: Quarterback Gardner Minshew took his lumps in the team’s recent 26-3 loss to the Texans in London as the rookie signal-caller turned over the ball four times in the second half. And last Tuesday, the Jaguars announced that veteran Nick Foles would be back in the starting lineup when the team faced the Colts at Indianapolis in Week 11. In any case, this is a Jacksonville offense that has gotten a big year from running back Leonard Fournette, who has already rolled up 831 yards on the ground and another 295 yards on 40 receptions. Second-year wide receiver D.J. Chark leads the club with six touchdowns. The Jaguars have rolled up 30 sacks, seven by rookie Josh Allen.
Next Week: Marrone’s team heads to Lucas Oil Stadium – a place where the club hasn’t had a great deal of success as of late – and take on the Colts for the first time this season. The Jaguars are just 1-5 in their last six trips to Indianapolis. However, it’s worth that Jacksonville owns a 5-2 record in the last seven meetings in this series.
Playoff hopes: While the club has slipped back below the .500 mark, Marrone’s team looks much more balance than it did a year ago and it will be interesting to see what Foles brings to the club after being knocked out of action in Week 2. Jacksonville’s run defense remains an issue, bad news when facing the rest of the AFC South.
Next: Nos. 18 and 17