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

Recap: Off a 35-point victory at Jacksonville, Anthony Lynn’s Chargers were back in Los Angeles hoping to surprise Mike Zimmer’s Minnesota Vikings. Despite some early issues, the Bolts would take a 10-9 lead midway through the second quarter thanks to a Philip Rivers’ touchdown pass. But that was the good news for this struggling club as they were outscored 30-0 the remainder of the afternoon and wound up turning over the football an astonishing seven times by game’s end. Rivers would throw for 307 yards and the aforementioned TD but was picked off three times and lost a fumble. Running back Melvin Gordon ran for 28 yards on only seven carries and lost two fumbles.

Next Week: The Bolts, with a 0-4 divisional record this season, host the rival Oakland Raiders looking to avoid being swept in this series for the first time since 2016. Back in Week 10 on a Thursday evening in the Bay Area, Lynn’s club fell short, 26-24. However, the Chargers have won the last two meetings in this series at Los Angeles.

Draft Talk: Is Rivers’ amazing tenure with the organization getting ready to come to an end? He’s started every game since the start of the 2006 season. So could general manager Tom Telesco be looking for a quarterback early in April’s draft? Of course, the Chargers did use a fifth-round pick in 2019 on Easton Stick (North Dakota State).

Recap: It’s been a long year in D.C. but the Redskins were playing better football as of late. They hosted the rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and looked to snap a five-game losing streak to their longtime NFC East foe. Rookie Dwayne Haskins connected on 19-of-28 passes for 261 yards and two scores. He was not sacked and looked fairly comfortable throughout the game. But with his team down by three in the closing seconds, he lost a fumble on what proved to be the last play of the game and Philadelphia linebacker Nigel Bradham scooped up the ball and ran 47 yards. The Redskins scored exactly 27 points in each game vs. the Eagles this year and fell short each time.

Next Week: The Redskins host the equally-struggling New York Giants looking to avenge a 24-3 loss back in Week 4 at East Rutherford. All told, these longtime rivals have split their annual two-game series each of the past four seasons. But a year ago at FedExField (Week 14), Washington was embarrassed by Pat Shurmur’s club, 40-16.

Draft Talk: It’s been an up-and-down rookie year for Haskins but the tools are certainly there. But the young signal-caller and the Redskins could use a lot more help at the wide receiver spot, although 2019 third-round pick Terry McLaurin has proven to be an excellent addition. More help along the offensive line would be a huge plus as well.

Next: Nos. 26 and 25