2019 NFL power rankings, Week 17: Bengals are No. 32 but pick No. 1
26. team. 59. . 4-11. Previous: . Miami Dolphins
Recap: The Dolphins were back home and welcomed the 1-13 Cincinnati Bengals to South Florida. Thanks to a pair of touchdown passes by veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Flores’ club owned a 14-0 lead after 15 minutes of play. In fact, Miami appeared to be on cruise control after taking a 35-12 lead with less than 12 minutes to play. But the Bengals stormed back with 23 consecutive points and quarterback Andy Dalton’s TD pass and two-point conversion run on the final play of regulation sent the game into overtime. Fitzpatrick would finish with 419 passing yards and four scores (1 interception) and led his club to the game-winning field goal in the extra session.
Next Week: Flores and the Dolphins head north looking for a rare win at Foxborough as they face the New England Patriots for the second time this season. Three months ago at South Florida (Week 2), Miami was blanked at home by an embarrassing 43-0 score. The ‘Fins have dropped 10 straight games at New England dating back to 2009.
Draft Talk: Flores and general manager Chris Grier have a lot of draft capital to work with this offseason and the team can also build on the club’s improved play over the season’s second half. It’s a team that’s gone from inept to somewhat respectable. That’s hardly a reason for celebration, however South Florida wasn’t (re)built in a day.
Previous: . New York Giants. 25. team. 31. . 4-11
Recap: A week after snapping a nine-game losing streak, Pat Shurmur’s club made their way to FedExField and were in position to sweep the rival Redskins for the first time since 2014. It would prove to be a huge afternoon for second-year running back Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 189 yards and one score and also caught four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Jones threw for 352 yards and five touchdowns and the Giants needed every bit of it. His three-yard scoring pass to Kaden Smith with 4:15 left in overtime gave the club its fourth win of 2019. While the defense remains a major issue, Shurmur’s team has scored a combined 77 points the last two weeks.
Next Week: The Giants battle the rival Philadelphia Eagles for the second time this season and looked to snap a long losing streak to the Birds. On a Monday night in the City of Brotherly Love (Week 14), Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes in the first half but his club couldn’t protect a 17-3 halftime lead and fell in overtime, 23-17.
Draft Talk: Once again, there have been question marks regarding the futures of both Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman. If the former is gone and the latter returns in 2020, could old friend Ron Rivera be on the team’s list of head-coaching candidates. And the defense must be addressed early and often in the draft.
Next: Nos. 24 and 23