USA TODAY International Edition
49ers, Texans move into top five
Check out who rose, fell in NFL power rankings
1. Patriots ( previous ranking, 1): The defense already has 14 interceptions, three more than even Baker Mayfield. Should be lots of possession changes when Bake comes to Foxborough in two weeks.
2. Saints ( 2): When you’re getting a shoutout from the Pope – intentional or not – it sure seems like you’re in the midst of a season that could prove special. 3. Packers ( 5): Unheralded guys like Jamaal Williams and Allen Lazard stepped up in key spots to propel banged- up Pack to 5- 1 start. Sign of a very formidable team.
4. 49ers ( 6): Despite a 5- 0 start, Jimmy Garoppolo has been uneven. Once he’s had more time to grow with unfamiliar receivers, the Niners could really flourish. 5. Texans ( 18): They have won four of five and are suddenly keeping Deshaun Watson clean and upright. Might they be New England’s primary challenger in the AFC?
6. Chiefs ( 3): Not only are they allowing nearly 200 rushing yards per game over the last month, no defense has allowed more first downs. What’s Patrick Mahomes supposed to do?
7. Vikings ( 9): They’ve won three of four, and QB Kirk Cousins has seven TD passes, one interception and a 121.0 passer rating in that time. What was everyone spun up about?
8. Seahawks ( 11): Russell Wilson is on his way to bypassing Aaron Rodgers as the highest- rated QB ever. The MVP front- runner has been 100+ in every game of 2019. 9. Bills ( 8): Coming out of their bye, their next three games are at home, none against an opponent with a winning record. There is a very good chance Buffalo ends up around 11 or 12 wins.
10. Lions ( 4): Detroit was mere seconds away from claiming first place in the NFL’s toughest division. Instead, the Lions get sunk by mental errors and bad calls – feel free to send officials a hefty fine in a FedEx envelope this week, Trey Flowers. 11. Eagles ( 7): Turnovers are the telling tale of this team. When Philly has two or more, it hasn’t won. But limit giveaways to one or fewer, and the Iggles are 3- 0.
in Arizona, 12. Panthers Houston, ( 17): Kyle Charlotte Allen and has Lon- won don is, has this he season. permanently The big won question Cam New- now ton’s job? 13. Raiders ( 19): Speaking of “Browns” Oakland signed in 2019, Derek Carr recently said, “My favorite Brown was obviously Trent.” Josh Jacobs likely agrees. 14. Bears ( 10): Coming out of their bye, a club currently just outside the playoff picture hits a brutal stretch with just two of its final 11 opponents currently below .500. 15. Colts ( 12): Coming out of their bye, a club currently just outside the playoff picture hits a crucial stretch with four of five at Lucas Oil. First up, the Texans.
16. Ravens ( 16): Lamar Jackson has already staked a claim as one of the most devastating running QBs ever. He’s on pace to rush for 1,227 yards, which would smash Michael Vick’s rec
ord ( 1,039 yards) for a passer. Jackson just became the first player in regularseason history to pass for 200 yards and rush for 150 in the same game.
17. Buccaneers ( 14): Per Bruce Arians, Jameis Winston “has a habit of trying to be Superman” following his sixturnover day. Lotta kryptonite in the NFL. 18. Rams ( 15): Since the end of the 2018 regular season, Jared Goff hasn’t thrown more than two TD passes in a game, and his passer rating has exceeded 85 once.
19. Cowboys ( 13): A troubling aspect of the latest loss was Zeke Elliott’s solid day. It’s the first time Dallas has lost in 13 games when RBs posted 150 or more yards from scrimmage.
20. Steelers ( 27): Rookie LB Devin Bush was pretty clearly worth a draftday move, already owning a league- high six takeaways – which is more than seven NFL teams. 21. Jaguars ( 21): Minshew Mania hit
wall Sunday as the rookie QB turned in his worst performance of the season – by far. Nothing a visit to Cincinnati shouldn’t fix. 22. Browns ( 23): Does Baker Mayfield have more commercials ( seemingly infinite) or interceptions ( NFL- high 11)? Will likely be inversely proportionate moving forward.
23. Broncos ( 25): The offense has been steadily fading over the past three weeks, but the defense has picked up pace with 12 sacks and six takeaways over the same stretch.
24. Chargers ( 20): Poor Bolts, playing in front of a sea of Steelers fans – at “home” – on Sunday night. Next game in L. A. is against Green Bay, so home- field disadvantage could actually grow.
25. Giants ( 24): Even while severely undermanned, they gave the Pats all they could handle for three quarters. One game back, don’t count the G- Men out of the NFC East race.
26. Cardinals ( 28): Look who’s on a mini winning streak. However, the most compelling angle around this team now is whether it will trade reinstated Patrick Peterson. 27. Jets ( 30): Even inspired to win by Sam Darnold’s return, they still have the fewest yards, first downs and points per drive of any team. Next up? The Pats in prime time. 28. Titans ( 22): Welp, they’re tied for the fewest turnovers in the league. It’s about the only nice thing you can say about an offense that’s otherwise completely disappeared.
29. Falcons ( 26): Don’t blame this on Matt Ryan, who has an NFL- best 15 TD passes and can become the first player to start a season with seven straight 300- yard passing days.
30. Redskins ( 31): They fire their coach but, according to ESPN, won’t search for Jay Gruden’s replacement until after the season? Sure, why not squander the truly significant advantage of a midseason termination – it’s the Redskin Way. 31. Bengals ( 29): How about this stat to perfectly explain their league- worst 0- 6 record – Cincinnati is getting outrushed by 128 yards a week.
32. Dolphins ( 32): They’ve generated just two turnovers – one- third of what Pittsburgh’s Bush has managed alone. But they make up for it by collecting just five sacks ... which is fewer than seven players.