2019 NFL power rankings, Week 15: 49ers impress, Patriots depressed

NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 08: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) hands off to running back Matt Breida (22) against New Orleans Saints on December 8, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Recap: Impressive in last Sunday’s loss at Baltimore, the Niners made their way to the Big Easy to take on to recently- crowned NFC South champion Saints. Kyle Shanahan’s club would wind up trailing 20-7 in the second quarter but San Francisco’s offense was humming throughout the afternoon as the club rolled up 516 total yards and 25 first downs. The 49ers’ ground attack gauged the NFL’s third-ranked run defense for 162 yards. Jimmy Garoppolo had another interception but passed for 349 yards and four scores and wideout Emanuel Sanders also threw a TD pass. Thanks to a big play by George Kittle, Robbie Gould kicked the game-winning field goal at the gun.

Next Week: The Niners host the Atlanta Falcons for the first time since 2015. It also marks the first time that Shanahan will face his one-time employer since he took over in San Francisco in ’17. When last these one-time divisional rivals squared off, the 49ers were on the very short end of a 41-13 setback in 2016 at Atlanta.

Playoff Hopes:  San Francisco could have clinched their first playoff berth since 2013 if the Seahawks had managed to knock off the Rams in Los Angeles. But now Shanahan’s team is back atop the NFC West all by itself thanks to one of the team’s biggest victories in quite some time. Remarkably, this was a four-win club just a season ago.

Recap: John Harbaugh’s AFC North leaders took an eight-game winning streak into their tilt with the Bills at Buffalo. And simply put, a win at Orchard Park would put the Ravens in the playoffs. Baltimore owned a 10-6 lead at intermission as neither Harbaugh’s club (95) nor the Bills (74) managed 100 yards of total offense in the first two quarters of play. Baltimore was limited to a season-low 118 yards in the ground and quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for only 145 yards and was picked off once. But he also connected for three touchdowns. However, this game belonged to the Ravens’ defense, which limited Buffalo to 209 total yards and one trip to the end zone.

Next Week: Harbaugh’s club hosts the New York Jets for the first time since 2013 as these teams clash for only the third time in seven seasons. Although the Ravens own an 8-2 lifetime edge in the standings in a series that dates back to 1997, New York came away with a 24-16 home triumph three years ago when the clubs squared off.

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Playoff Hopes: The Ravens clinched a playoff berth with the win at Buffalo but Harbaugh’s club wasn’t able to wrap up the AFC North due to the Steelers’ win at Arizona. However, Harbaugh’s club is the lone team in the conference with 11 wins and could be closing in on the number-one seed in the AFC playoffs sooner than later.