2019 NFL power rankings, Week 16: Cowboys won, 49ers stunned

Recap: Winners of eight of their last 10 games following and 0-3 start, the Steelers hosted the formidable Buffalo Bills in prime time. The star of last week’s win over the Cardinals was rookie wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who scored on both offense and special teams. Mike Tomlin’s team would be without JuJu Schuster-Smith and Vance McDonald for this key match-up. But running back James Conner would return. Still, quarterback Devlin Hodges had his issues, throwing a pair of interceptions to Buffalo cornerback Tre’davious White. And with two chances to possibly tie the score in the final minutes, Hodges was picked off twice in the end zone twice down the stretch.

Next Week: Tomlin’s club heads to MetLife Stadium and clashes with the New York Jets for the first time since 2016. Historically, it’s been a series that the Steelers have owned for years. Including playoffs, Pittsburgh owns a 20-5 advantage and the last time the clubs clashed, rolled to a 31-13 triumph three years ago at Heinz Field.

Playoff Hopes: Despite the seven-point setback, the Steelers still control their own destiny when it comes to reaching the postseason. But Tomlin’s team will play its final two games on the road (Jets and Ravens). Obviously, any team certainly can’t afford to turn over the football five times against any opponent and get away with it.

Recap: The Titans took a four-game winning streak into their first meeting of the season with the defending AFC South champion Texans as the clubs clashed in Nashville. The Tennessee defense wound up picking off Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson twice in the end zone in the game. But they were never able to get the lead after falling behind 14-0 in the first half. The Titans ran for 163 yards, Ryan Tannehill threw for 279 yards and two scores and the veteran signal-caller also ran for a touchdown. But he also had a very costly interception off a deflection deep in Houston territory. And Vrabel’s defensive unit gave up a slew of big pass plays in the fourth quarter.

Next Week: The Titans take on the NFC South champion New Orleans Saints as these team meet for the first time since 2015 and the first time in Nashville since ’11. Both of those contests went the way of the road team as Tennessee came away with a 34-28 overtime triumph four years ago at the Superdome in the clubs’ last meeting.

Playoff Hopes: Vrabel’s club now trails the Texans by one game in the AFC South standings. And the loss on Sunday dropped the Titans’ divisional record to 2-3 and the club’s conference record to 6-5. Still, the club owns an 8-6 record, the same as the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next week’s clash with the Saints is followed by a trip to Houston.

Next: Nos. 10 and 9