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

Recap: It’s been another uneven start for a team that has finished the previous three seasons with a 9-7 record. But only one of those showing (2017) was good enough to qualify for the playoffs. The Tennessee offense has been somewhat better as of late as head coach Mike Vrabel supplanted five-year veteran Marcus Mariota with former Dolphins’ quarterback Ryan Tannehill and it has paid some dividends. But the Titans’ attack still revolves around running back Derrick Henry, who has run for 832 yards while his 10 total touchdowns is nearly half of the team’s offensive total (24). Nine different players have caught the 15 TD passes thrown by Tannehill (8) and Mariota (7).

Next Week: The well-rested Titans host the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars looking to make amends for a rare loss in this series. Back in Week 3 on a Thursday night in the Sunshine State, then-starting quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked nine times in a 20-7 setback. It snapped Tennessee’s four-game winning streak in this series.

Playoff hopes: Tennessee sits at third place in the AFC South and is certainly within range of both the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. But the Titans also sports a 0-2 record within the division this year. All told, Vrabel’s club is going to have to change that quickly if they want to win a division title for the first time since 2008.

Recap: Losers of four of the previous six games after what appeared to be a solid 3-0 start, the reigning NFC champions would battle the equally-disappointing Chicago Bears on a Sunday evening for the second consecutive season. It was a busy night for running back Todd Gurley, who wound up totaling 97 yards rushing and one score on 25 carries. He also added 36 yards on three receptions, lost one fumble and finished with nearly half of Los Angeles’ 283 total yards, while Malcolm Brown scored the Rams’ other touchdown. The Rams had few issues with the struggling Bears’ offense and defensive tackle Aaron Donald finished with two of his club’s three sacks.

Next Week: The Rams have a second consecutive prime time home game and host the first-place Baltimore Ravens for the first time since 2011. That game resulted in a 37-7 loss eight years ago at St. Louis. All told, the Rams have dropped four of the previous six contests in an interconference series that dating back to ’96.

Playoff hopes: McVay’s team is certainly still very much in the playoff mix and this win elevated the club’s record within the conference to 4-3. The Rams still have quite the uphill climb when it comes to the NFC West as the team has already lost to the 49ers at home and the Seahawks on the road. But you have to crawl before you walk.

Next: Nos. 16 and 15