NFL Power Rankings heading into the fourth quarter of 2019

#25 Atlanta Falcons (4-8)

What do you even make of these Falcons? They start the season 1-7 before pulling off two straight upset wins over the division rival Saints and Panthers and now they are back to losing at home to the Bucs and that rematch against New Orleans. We have seen those guys really want to fight for their coaches and I don’t think anybody is cheating with their effort, but it just hasn’t been enough.

The defense has improved since making some changes over the bye week, but they are allowing an average of 26.9 PPG and they have allowed 24 points in all but three games – their three wins. Their communication has been awful and they were on a historically bad pace with their sack production leading up to their off week. The offense definitely has shown signs with Calvin Ridley putting himself in the conversation for the best number two receiver and Austin Hooper being one of the best tight ends in the game in this Dirk Koetter offense.

With that being said, they have scored a large number of their points late in games, when things were already out of reach already. Atlanta is now minus eleven in turnover differential and if not for a couple of successful onside kicks on Thanksgiving, they would not have been particularly close in that contest. They looked really good on paper and I like Dan Quinn, but that’s now two years of “not enough”.

#26 Arizona Cardinals (3-9)

What the hell was that? I was actually pretty excited for that slate of afternoon games, but this game and the Raiders-Chiefs were so one-sided, that most of my focus went to Chargers-Broncos. After putting up 25+ points three games in a row and being in those contests basically until the last play in all of them, the Cardinals looked like that crew from a year ago and never belonged on that field with the Rams, despite being just a 3-point home underdog.

I still believe Kyler Murray is the real deal and he will give those guys the opportunity to build something around him, but with 41 sacks on the season this O-line needs some help and somehow their best receiving still might be 36-year old Larry Fitzgerald – outside of Christian Kirk maybe. Defensively is where I am actually concerned. Arizona is ranked 31st both in points allowed (29.2) and defensive third-down percentage (47.2).

Patrick Peterson has looked unrecognizable since coming back from his suspension and for as good as Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks and some others have been individually, they have not been able to stop any particular area. Despite being +3 in turnover differential, they average the least amount of time of possession (under 27 minutes) and are mostly defined by a talented rookie signal-caller.

#27 New York Jets (4-8)

This had to be such a deflating loss for Gang Green. The Jets had scored 34 points in three consecutive games before not even reaching the end-zone in a 22-6 loss to the formerly winless Cincinnati Bengals. They have gone from offseason darlings to a joke of a team, then giving the fanbase some hope and finally proving that they are far from competing for a playoff spot, while the Bills actually have firmly established themselves.

Rarely do you have a team that can defend the run, but can’t run the ball themselves, but somehow the Jets are 31st in offensive rushing yards while having the toughest run D at just 75.2 yards allowed per game and only 2.9 yards a carry. So they are forcing them to attack them outside, where they struggle mightily, and they solely depend on second-year quarterback Sam Darnold to spread the ball around or they won’t run any offense.

Their offensive stats are heavily influenced by the three weeks of Trevor Siemian and Luke Falk when they could not move the ball whatsoever. If Jamal Adams buys back into the franchise, C.J. Mosley’s monster contract gets validated by him actually playing and Quinnen Williams lives up to his potential, they could have a real defense, but they need to draft some help on the O-line to help out their QB. Right now they are tied for ninth-most giveaways (20) and they only scored 20+ points once outside that three-game winning streak.

#28 Miami Dolphins (3-9)

Philadelphia Eagles v Miami Dolphins

I know the Dolphins were outscored by 137 points through the first four weeks of the season and their previous two wins came over the Jets and the Brian Hoyer-led Colts, but I think Brian Flores is building something special down in South Beach. Despite getting rid of their starting left tackle and young star safety, their number one corner being lost for the season, them being on the fourth starting running back and being publicly called out for tanking, this Miami team has fought in every single game since that first quarter of the season.

In no way did I expect this game against the Eagles to even to be close, especially considering what was on the line for Philadelphia. Outside of maybe two players on offense and defense combined – DeVante Parker, who has been spectacular ever seen the promising rookie receiver Preston Williams has been out, and 13th overall pick Christian Wilkins – I don’t think there is anybody on that roster who would start for a .500 team out there.

The ‘Phins now have three other teams in this bottom-six coming up until their season finale in New England and could easily win a couple more of those. This team has been fun to watch with Ryan Fitzpatrick going off in spots and punter-to-kicker touchdown passes, and they will likely have four picks inside the top 60 as well as over 100 million dollars in cap space to sign free agents.