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2019 NFL power rankings, Week 17: Bengals are No. 32 but pick No. 1

By Russell S. Baxter

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Ravens defeated the Browns 31-15. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Ravens defeated the Browns 31-15. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 21: Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots looks on during the first half against the Buffalo Bills in the game at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 21: Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots looks on during the first half against the Buffalo Bills in the game at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /

team. 47. . 12-3. Previous: . New England Patriots. 2

Recap: Dating back to head coach Bill Belichick’s arrival in New England in 2000, the Patriots own an overwhelming 34-5 record vs. the Buffalo Bills. And on Saturday afternoon at Foxborough, the Pats looked to make it seven straight win over their playoff-bound AFC East rival. It was a dogfight all afternoon but it was New England’ balanced attack that proved to be the difference. Belichick’s squad rolled up 414 total yards on 68 plays, including 143 yards on the ground, and Brady was not sacked. The opportunistic Pats did not come away with a takeaway but sacked Josh Allen four times and limited Buffalo’s ground game to 92 yards in clinching the AFC East title again.

Next Week: Thanks to a 43-0 victory back in Week 2 at South Florida, the AFC East champions can sweep the Miami Dolphins for the first time since 2016. Dating back to 2010, New England owns a 14-5 edge in this longtime rivalry. And the Patriots have won their last 10 home games in the divisional setting dating way back to 2009.

Playoff Hopes: Make it 11. Not only have Belichick’s Patriots been to the playoffs every season since 2009, their 11th consecutive division titles are four more than the previous records (Rams 7 straight from 1973-79). A year ago, the club overcame a shaky mid-December and won a title. Will it be déjà vu all over again for this franchise?

1. team. 26. . 13-2. Previous: . Baltimore Ravens

Recap: Entering Week 16, the last time John Harbaugh’s Ravens dropped a game was back in Week 4 at home to the feisty Browns. Now the 2019 AFC North champions looked to avoid being swept in this series for the first time since ‘07. A Baltimore victory would make the team the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Early on, the Ravens’ offense struggled but it would finally awake very late in the second half and by game’s end, Harbaugh’s club rolled up an impressive 481 total yards – including 243 yards rushing. Lamar Jackson threw for 238 yards and three scores, setting a new franchise record for TD passes in a season. The defense held the Browns to 49 yards on the ground.

Next Week: Harbaugh’s club looks to complete its first season sweep of the rival Steelers since 2015. Back in Week 5 at Pittsburgh, Jackson overcame three interceptions and the Ravens won in overtime, 26-23. Despite that win, Baltimore is just 2-4 in its last half-dozen clashes in this rivalry dating back to the clubs’ second meeting in 2016.

More fansided.com: Power ranking the NFL defenses for 2019

Playoff Hopes: Make it 11 straight victories for Harbaugh’s improving squad. For the first time since the franchise was “born” in 1996, the Ravens will be the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC. The club also tied a team record with its 13th win on the season and can obviously set a new club high for victories next Sunday if they defeat the Steelers.

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