NFL Power Poll: Where do the Jaguars rank this week?

With the win on Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars rise in the FanSided.com NFL Power Rankings.

I wasn’t aware of this until my colleague here at FanSided.com, Russell Baxter, pointed it out. The Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets have split the 14 times the two teams have met all time, which also includes a playoff game in 1998. This week’s game between the two teams is important for the Jaguars as they try to get to .500 before a London matchup with division rival Houston.

The Jets, 1-5 and facing the New England Patriots Monday night, have started slow and were beaten by their AFC East nemesis, 33-0.

The Jaguars, a team that showed it can run the football effectively and play stout defense in a 27-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, moved up in Baxter’s most recent NFL Power Rankings, jumping two spots to 19th overall in the league.

Playing at home against the Jets before moving on London next week should prove to be a definite advantage for the Jaguars, who are now 3-4 this season and still a part of the playoff picture in the AFC South and the conference.

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"“Running back Leonard Fournette had 131 of the club’s 216 yards rushing,” Baxter writes. “Gardner Minshew threw for 255 yards and one score and also connected with Chris Conley on a two-point conversion. Josh Lambo kicked four field goals and Doug Marrone’s team came up with four takeaways.”"

This was not the easy victory many of us thought it would be on Sunday as the Bengals played Jacksonville tight in the first half despite giving up 303 yards off offense and holding a 7-6 lead. The second half was a defensive showcase for Jacksonville, a team that forced four turnovers on the afternoon, three by interception.

One of those picks, by defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, resulted in a touchdown for the visitors.

"“It was awesome,” linebacker Myles Jack said via Jaguars.com. “We just have to keep it going. It’s what Jaguars defense is all about. We create turnovers. We play physical. We’ve been playing good defense. We just haven’t been able to get those turnovers we needed.“Once we’re able to create that, it puts our offense in easier situations to do their thing. It’s a great feeling.”"

The win also had to feel good for the team as the news of Jalen Ramsey’s trade to Los Angeles filled local and national websites, sports talk radio and television coverage. The new-look Jaguars had its best defensive performance of the season, sans their former controversial teammate out on the west coast.

"“Head Coach Doug Marrone called the week leading to Sunday perhaps the team’s best of the season when it came to creating turnover opportunities in practice,” John Oehser wrote. “Marrone said he mentioned it to defensive coordinator Todd Wash, who told him defensive players may have gotten more hands on more balls than in any previous week this season.”"

The Jaguars are the third team ranked in the division by Baxter and have a chance to make more of a statement prior to the bye week and then immediately after their return.

"“While Marrone’s club is still below the .500 mark, the Jaguars have shown vast improvement from a year ago, especially when it comes to the offensive side of the ball,” Baxter adds. “The team owns a 1-1 record within the division and still has two games remaining with the Indianapolis Colts. They are still very much a factor in the AFC South.”"