2019 NFL power rankings, Week 12: Falcons rolling, Texans rolled

There were plenty of lopsided results in Week 11. So how did some of these performances, good and bad, affect the latest NFL Power Rankings?

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 17: Ryan Finley #5 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass against the Oakland Raiders during their NFL game at RingCentral Coliseum on November 17, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)

Recap: At 0-9, the Bengals were in position to equal the worst start in franchise history (0-10 in 1993) if they came up short on the road against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. For the second consecutive Sunday, Cincinnati’s running game had a productive outing as Joe Mixon (86) nearly half of the team’s 173 yards on the ground. But rookie quarterback Ryan Finley had a tough afternoon, hitting on less than 50 percent of his passes (13-of-31) for 115 yards and a pair of turnovers. He was also sacked five times by an improving Oakland pass rush. Still, the Bengals hung tough and actually owned a 7-0 first-quarter lead before settling for a field goal the rest of the way.

Next Week: Back in Week 4 on a Monday night in the Steel City, Taylor’s team fell by a 27-3 score. It marked the Bengals’ ninth straight overall loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers – with five of those setbacks coming at Paul Brown Stadium. In fact, Cincinnati has dropped six consecutive home games in this divisional rivalry dating back to 2014.

Draft Talk: It’s been a disastrous debut for Taylor in his first season on the sidelines. The defense has been horrific and too many teams the Bengals have not been competitive on the field. The team is now eliminated from the postseason, meaning they will follow five straight playoff appearances with four consecutive non-playoff showings.

Recap: The Redskins had a couple of weeks to think about their latest loss. Now the team was back on the field and at home and would clash with the New York Jets. Last Monday, head coach Bill Callahan announced that rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins would be the starter the remainder of the season. On Sunday, Washington was down 20-3 at intermission and wound up giving up 400 total yards in this latest loss. With 9:59 to play, the ‘Skins scored their first touchdown in four games and actually reached the end zone twice in the fourth quarter. But it was little solace for a team that dropped its fourth consecutive game. And Haskins was sacked six times.

Next Week: The Redskins are at home for the second consecutive Sunday and take on the Detroit Lions. It’s a series that has seen a big turnaround as of late and Washington has dropped the last four meetings dating back to ’09. That includes a 20-17 setback at Ford Field three years ago in the last clash between the franchises.

Playoff hopes: Although the club finally ended its touchdown drought, the Redskins ensured they will finish with a losing record for the third consecutive season. It’s been a forgettable year for the organization, which will likely be searching for a new head coach next year. But the team may have found its quarterback in the talented Haskins.

Next: Nos. 30 and 29