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

Recap: Frank Reich’s team was coming off a rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars and were now only hoping to make it four straight wins over the Texans but to maintain their perfect record vs. their divisional rivals this season. The Colts would be without running back Marlon Mack but led by Jonathan Williams and his 104 yards rushing, Indianapolis ran for 175 yards on 39 attempts. Williams had two-thirds of those carries (26) and scored from 13 yards out. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the passing game was limited but he also ran for one touchdown. But the Colts’ defense ultimately had zero answers for Deshaun Watson and Houston’s big-play passing attack.

Next Week: Thanks to a nail-biting 19-17 win in Week 2 at Nashville, the Colts are in position to sweep the Tennessee Titans for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. Dating back to the clubs’ second encounters in 2011, Indianapolis owns a 14-2 record in this AFC South rivalry and is 7-1 at home vs. the Titans during that stretch.

Playoff hopes: It’s been a season of close games for this squad. But the Colts are still one game above .500 and own a 3-1 record within the division. Reich’s team is certainly very much in the mix for the team’s first division title since 2014. And given the muddled mess that is the AFC, the club is firmly entrenched in the postseason picture.

Recap: Jason Garrett’s team has struggled early in games as of late and the Cowboys were hoping to get off to a good start at Foxborough against the Patriots in a battle for first-place squads. Quarterback Dak Prescott came into the game as the NFL leader in passing yardage but wound up throwing for just 212 yards, zero scores and one interception as the NFC East leaders were limited to three field goals. Dallas’ defense played one of its better games of the season and made life difficult for Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady. But the Cowboys’ offensive line had a rough afternoon and Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper failed to connect on a single throw.

Next Week: The Cowboys return from Foxborough and square off with another AFC East foe as they host the improved Buffalo Bills for the first time since 2011. The teams meet for the first time since 2015 when the Bills came away with a 16-6 victory at Orchard Park. All told, the Cowboys are 31-19-1 lifetime on Thanksgiving Day.

Playoff hopes: Once again, Garrett’s club came up short against a club with a winning record. More importantly, the Cowboys’ latest loss kept the rival Philadelphia Eagles afloat when it comes to the NFC East title. Similar to the loss at New Orleans, Dallas held a team to less than 14 points and couldn’t come up with enough points to win.

Next: Nos. 10 and 9