2019 NFL power rankings, Week 13: Jets soar, Eagles grounded

Recap: The battered Pittsburgh Steelers, missing several key players due to injury and center Maurkice Pouncey via a suspension, headed to Cincinnati looking for their 10th consecutive overall win over the struggling Bengals. Quarterback Mason Rudolph struggled once again and served up an interception deep in Bengals’ territory. Head coach Mike Tomlin would sit the young signal-caller and inserted Devlin Hodges and the “Duck” would find wideout James Washington on a touchdown play that covered 79 yards. Led by rookie Benny Snell Jr., Tomlin’s ground attack rolled up 160 yards. And the Pittsburgh defense racked up four sacks and two more takeaways.

Next Week: The Steelers and Cleveland Browns renew hostilities for the second time in three games and Tomlin’s team is looking to avenge a 21-7 Thursday night loss at Cleveland in Week 11. Pittsburgh has won the last 15 meetings between the teams at Heinz Field dating back to 2004, including a 33-18 triumph one season ago.

Playoff hopes: It looked bad for the Black and Gold for a spell. But Tomlin made the switch at quarterback and while Hodges was far from spectacular, the rest of the team rallied around him. It was an ugly but enormous win for a team that is scratching and clawing these days in an AFC where they are one of four teams with a 6-5 record.

Recap: To say it’s been an odd year for the defending NFC champions in that would be an understatement. Sean McVay’s squad got off to a 3-0 start, although the Rams hardly look like world beaters in the process. The team dropped four of their next six contests before stifling the Chicago Bears last Sunday night. Keep in mind that this was a team finished 13-3 and scored 527 points in 2018, tied for the best record in the NFL while totaling the second-most points in the league. This season, Jared Goff and company have managed “only” 243 points and 24 offensive touchdowns in 11 outings. Meanwhile, the fourth-year quarterback has 15 of the team’s 18 turnovers.

Next Week: It’s the first of two meetings with the division-rival Cardinals as McVay’s club heads to the desert looking to continue their recent dominance in this series. Los Angeles has won the last four meetings by a combined score of 130-25, pitching a pair of shut outs. And the Rams have also won four straight at Arizona.

Playoff hopes: One season after rolling to 13 victories and six of those against their divisional brethren, McVay’s defending NFC champions are already 0-2 vs. their NFC West rivals. The Rams will obviously play four of their final six contests within the division, including a pair with the Cardinals. But can they catch the 49ers and Seahawks?

Next: Nos. 12 and 11