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

Recap: The Jaguars had dropped their last four games (by a combined 129-47 score) when they took on the visiting Chargers, who had dropped their previous three contests. Rookie Gardner Minshew was back in the starting lineup but it didn’t really make much of a difference as Doug Marrone’s team trailed 24-3 at halftime. Things got worse in the early stages of the third quarter as the Jacksonville defense continued to struggle as the Los Angeles’ offense rolled up 525 total yards, including 195 on the ground. Minshew threw for only 162 yards and the Jaguars’ ground game was limited to a mere 88 yards. And Marrone’s team has surrendered 174 points in their last five outings.

Next Week: Marrone’s club battles an AFC West foe for the second consecutive Sunday as the Jaguars make their first appearance at Oakland since 2013. This marks just the ninth time that these franchises will play and the first time since ’16, when Jacksonville fell at home, 33-16. The Jaguars have dropped three straight in this setting.

Draft Talk: It’s all over officially for Marrone’s club in terms of the playoffs and a club that was in the AFC title game in 2017 is now a dismal 9-20 in their last 29 outings dating back to the start of ’18. The team’s recent freefall is not only due to the issues at quarterback but on defense as well. The Jaguars could use some linebacker help.

Recap: On Tuesday, the Panthers parted ways with head coach Ron Rivera after eight-plus seasons. On Sunday, the club looked to end its four-game losing streak against a Falcons’ team that had bested them, 29-23, in Week 11 at Charlotte. But it proved to be another frustrating outing for the club, now under the guidance of Perry Fewell. Quarterback Kyle Allen did throw for 293 yards and one score. But he was also sacked five times and committed three of the Panthers’ four turnovers in the loss. Carolina’s disappointing defense allowed a whopping 461 total yards in this latest setback. The Panthers have surrendered a disturbing 227 points in their last seven outings.

Next Week: The Panthers host the Seattle Seahawks for the second consecutive season as these clubs, who have clashed in the postseason on three occasions, battle for the 14th time. Carolina has struggled in this setting as of late, dropping seven of the previous nine overall meetings dating back to 2010 – including twice in the playoffs.

Draft Talk: The lopsided loss at Atlanta officially eliminated the Panthers from the 2019 postseason picture as the club dropped its fifth consecutive game. And now the team can keep at least one eye towards the future while trying to access which players may be part of the team’s plans in 2020. Will the club move on from Cam Newton?

Next: Nos. 28 and 27