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

Recap: Mike Tomlin’s club was 7-0-1 in its last eight games vs. the Browns entering Thursday night’s tilt in Cleveland. Pittsburgh came into the week second in the NFL with 26 takeaways but fell behind, 7-0, less than four minutes into the game. The Steelers’ offense never got untracked against Cleveland’s defense. Quarterback Mason Rudolph with sacked four times and served up four interceptions. Along the way, the club lost numerous players during the course of the game, including running back James Conner and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. And Tomlin’s team also failed to force a turnover for the first time since the Week 1 lopsided loss at New England.

Next Week: Tomlin’s club has a little extra time to get healthy before their rematch with the struggling Cincinnati Bengals. Back in Week 4 on a Monday night at Heinz Field, the Steelers got their first win of the season, 27-3. Including a playoff match-up four years ago, Pittsburgh currently owns a nine-game winning streak in this series.

Playoff hopes: When you dig yourself a 1-4 hole, there’s not a lot of margin for error if the team is going to make a playoff run. More distressing for the Steelers is the fact that they sit with a 1-2 record within the division. This was a club that lost only one game to an AFC North foe in 2018. But Tomlin’s team can change that the next two weeks.

Recap: Off a frustrating eight-point loss at Lambeau Field to the first-place Packers, Ron Rivera’s club returned home and took on an Atlanta Falcons’ team that was coming off an upset of the NFC South-leading Saints. And the Panthers were humbled in numerous ways as the club trailed 20-0 and the team’s three points came with 13 minutes remaining in the contest. After not being picked off in his first four outings this season, quarterback Kyle Allen has served up nine interceptions in his last four outings. The young signal-caller was also sacked five times by an aroused Atlanta pass rush. All told, it was also the team’s fourth consecutive loss to the rival Falcons.

Next Week: The Panthers take on another divisional rival when they head to the Big Easy to take on the first-place Saints. A year ago, Carolina came away with a 33-14 win in Week 17 against a New Orleans’ team that sat many of its regulars. Prior to that, the Panthers had dropped four in a row in this series – including a playoff clash in 2017.

Playoff hopes: It’s been a humbling stretch for Allen and the Panthers, who have dropped three of their last four contests – this after winning their previous four contests. Carolina’s defense has been average at best as of late. While Rivera’s team is still in the mix after 10 games, the club’s 2-5 record within the conference is troublesome.

Next: Nos. 14 and 13