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

Recap: When you’re the only team in a division with a losing record, it’s tough to find a silver lining. But under first-time NFL head coach clings Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals have certainly made strides on the offensive side of the ball. Rookie quarterback Kyler Murray has slowly but surely gotten better weekly. The team has already scored more points than it did all of last season with five games to play. But Arizona entered the final six weeks of the season having allowed the most passing yards per game in the league and an NFL-high 29 scores through the air. Outside linebacker Chandler Jones is having another productive year, totaling 12.5 of the Cardinals’ 29 sacks.

Next Week: The Cards are back from their midseason vacation and will host the Los Angeles Rams, who will be coming off a Monday night tilt with the Ravens. Big Red has not only dropped four straight in this NFC West rivalry but Arizona has also lost four consecutive home games in this series, including a 31-9 setback a season ago.

Playoff hopes: Kingsbury’s club owns a 0-3 record vs. their NFC West rivals, two of those losses at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. The Cards still have two games remaining with the Rams and a visit to Seattle. And when the team gets back to action, they will play three consecutive homes. Arizona’s postseason chances appear very slim.

Recap: The Broncos were back on the road for a second consecutive Sunday and were hoping to erase the memory of last week’s loss at Minnesota in which Vic Fangio’s squad squandered a 20-0 lead. Unfortunately for Denver, its defense appeared to pick up where it left off in the second half against the Vikings. Buffalo’s ground attack rolled up 244 yards and the Bills’ offense rolled up 424 total yards. There was an interception of Josh Allen but only one sack of the second-year quarterback. On the other hand, Brandon Allen connected on only 10-of-25 throws for 82 yards, was picked off once while being sacked four times. Denver’s offense finished with a dismal 134 total yards.

Next Week: Thanks to a surprising 20-13 triumph at Los Angeles in early October (Week 5), the up-and-down Broncos are in position to sweep the Chargers for the first time since Denver’s Super Bowl 50 championship campaign of 2015. A year ago, these AFC West rivals split their two game set for the third consecutive season.

Playoff hopes: One week after nearly pulling off one of the bigger surprises of the season, the Broncos didn’t appear to be a very inspired team on Sunday at Orchard Park. And the Denver defense had a very difficult time trying to stop Buffalo’s ground attack. This is a team that is certainly headed in the wrong direction these days.

Next: Nos. 26 and 25