NFL Power Rankings heading into the fourth quarter of 2019

#21 Denver Broncos (4-8)

We are moving into the range of “basically eliminated”. The best team among that group for me is Denver. Obviously, 4-8 is not the expectation any of their fans or the front office had, but they have been fighting in pretty much every game this season. Their only losses by more than one possession came against the Packers, Chiefs, and Bills – all of those with at least eight wins on the season.

That is despite playing three different quarterbacks and losing Bradley Chubb for the season early on. They have lost three games on walk-off field goals and they were up 20-0 in Minnesota at halftime. Of course, you could certainly argue that they have not been able to finish games, but this group has some things to build around. Philip Lindsay has looked dynamic in a more featured role in recent weeks, Courtland Sutton has emerged as number one receiver, Noah Fant has shown flashes and they have a top ten defense, even without their second-best player on that side of the ball.

These last four weeks left are about seeing what they have in Drew Lock, who I thought was worth a first-round pick despite needing some development, and potentially being a thorn in the sight of the Texans, Chiefs, and Raiders. I mean after the Raiders made them look bad in the season-opener, how sweet would it be for the Broncos to keep their division rivals out of the playoffs with a win over them in week 17?

#22 Carolina Panthers (5-7)

This team has been in absolute free-fall ever since winning four straight before getting destroyed by the 49ers at 4-2. Since then they have lost five of their last six, including being denied at the goal-line once again by the Packers, losing 29-3 to a two-win Atlanta team, missing the go-ahead chip-shot field goal at New Orleans and just last weekend being run all over by another two-win squad in the Redskins.

They might still be first in totals sacks and have the NFL leader in scrimmage yards, but fans see the future of this franchise a whole lot different since the earlier portions of the year and big changes are coming with the firing of Ron Rivera. Kyle Allen does not appear to be the obvious long-term answer anymore and that front-seven that we hyped early on allowed over 400 yards on the ground these last two weeks.

The positive points here – D.J. Moore is turning into star in front of our eyes, Christian McCaffrey has only been held under 100 yards from scrimmage by the Bucs, they have seven different guys with 4+ sacks and their cornerback duo is outstanding, Obviously Panthers fans are disappointed with how the season went after all the promise this team showed with Cam being out, but that is still a pretty good roster and maybe some change will do them good.

#23 Los Angeles Chargers (4-8)

You could look at the Falcons or Browns here as well, but the Chargers might just be the most disappointing season of any team this year. Last season they won almost all of those one-score games, but they have come up short in eight of the nine they have had so far. Looking at their roster, they should be fighting the Chiefs for the AFC West, but instead, they are fourth in their own division.

At this point, they are plus three in point differential on the season, but they have turned the ball over in critical moments, not been able to get those late stops on defense and simply not come out on the winning end. Philip Rivers has thrown eight interceptions over the last three games and there is no talking around it – he has looked old.

Last season he played at a pretty high level and the Chargers might stick with him for another year, but the physical gifts have just fallen off. Right now the Bolts bottom five in giveaways (22) and turnover differential (-10), which is not a winning recipe. They are done for now, which is a shame, but that roster is still really to contend and I love the toughness Anthony Lynn has installed in them.

#24 Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8)

I had pretty high expectations for the Jags after what felt more like an off-year in 2018. With pretty much anybody being an upgrade over Blake Bortles and some reinforcements on the offensive line to go with a young, talented defense, they seemed to be ready to make another run. Instead, Nick Foles went on IR after just one offensive series and they were kind of forced to trade away superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

They actually came a two-point conversion short of winning in Houston week two and beat both the Titans and Jaguars after that with the mustache-wearing sensation Gardner Minshew running around and making plays. Unfortunately, he had his worst performance against the Texans in London and the coaches decided to go back to Foles after he returned coming off their bye week.

After the veteran struggled through these last two games, Jacksonville now decided to go back to the rookie, who has definitely shown some promise. They have now lost four straight by a combined 83 points and need a spark. In a lackluster season, there are some things to get excited about – D.J. Chark is a star in the making, Leonard Fournette has looked like a workhorse back for large stretches and rookie Josh Allen gives them a guy coming off the edge, who could make Jannick Ngakoue expendable this offseason.

Unfortunately that Foles contract has some guarantees left for next year and nobody in the coaching staff or front office seems to be totally safe right now.