After a 27-20 loss this past Sunday versus AFC West rival Kansas City, the Las Vegas Raiders have now lost four straight. It’s the first four-game losing streak for the Raiders since the 2019 NFL season.
The Raiders (2-6) will look to stop that skid with a trip to Paycor Stadium to take on the Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) on Sunday.
In order to end up on the right side of the equation this week, the Raiders have to find more in the running game. Las Vegas averaged just 1.57 yards per carry against the Chiefs.
It’s the second time this season that Las Vegas has averaged less than 2 yards per rushing attempt. The other instance came in the Raiders’ 26-23 Week 2 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Per Paul Gutierrez and ESPN research, every other NFL team combined this season has just two instances where they finished a game averaging less than 2 yards per rushing attempt.
As the Raiders seek to dig themselves out of this four-game slide, it has repercussions in perceptions nationally. The NFL Week 9 power rankings roundup paints a picture where the Raiders are trying to stave off the league’s cellar.
Take a look at where the Raiders rank according to various Week 9 NFL power rankings.
USA TODAY Sports
Current Ranking: No. 31
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 29
Author: Nate Davis
Author’s Take:
Brock Bowers continues to cement himself as their best offensive player, joining Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1961) and Kyle Pitts (2021) as the only rookie tight ends with at least 500 receiving yards through their first eight games.
Full USA TODAY Sports Week 9 NFL power rankings
NFL.com
Current Ranking: No. 29
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 28
Author: Eric Edholm
Author’s Take:
The Raiders had a legitimate chance on Sunday if they’d taken advantage after intercepting Patrick Mahomes near his own end zone while trailing 17-13. But the Chiefs made a goal-line stop, then put together a 19-play, 87-yard field-goal drive that took up nearly 10 minutes. Gardner Minshew coughed up a fumble two plays into the next possession, forcing a worn-out Las Vegas defense back on the field, after which the Chiefs put it away.
Two Raiders possessions reached the K.C. 4-yard line, and they only got three points out of them. Minshew is up to 11 turnovers this season, so it will be interesting to see how Antonio Pierce handles the QB position this week at the Bengals. With Aidan O’Connell on injured reserve, the only realistic option besides Minshew is Desmond Ridder, who technically didn’t do anything Sunday but was on the field for one third-quarter play that resulted in a false start. If Ridder is given a shot, maybe the former Cincinnati Bearcat can tap into some of the college magic he spun in the Queen City to spark the Raiders.
Full NFL.com Week 9 power rankings
ESPN
Current Ranking: No. 25
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 28
Author: Paul Gutierrez
Author’s Take:
The No. 13 draft pick has been everything Las Vegas had hoped for and more. After Week 8, the rookie is leading the NFL with 52 catches. “He’s in a league of his own, I think,” said receiver Jakobi Meyers when asked how Bowers stacks up to other tight ends. “That’s a different kind of cat.” Indeed, Bowers’ 535 receiving yards also lead all NFL tight ends.
Full ESPN Week 9 NFL power rankings
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: No. 29
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 27
Author: Pete Prisco
Author’s Take:
Their season is spiraling in the wrong direction, which means it might be time to sell off some parts. Is Maxx Crosby one of them — even if they say he isn’t?
Full CBS Sports Week 9 NFL power rankings
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: No. 28
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 27
Author: Frank Schwab
Author’s Take:
The Raiders are one of the worst rushing teams in recent memory. They’re last in EPA (expected points added) per rush by a large margin and their success rate on runs is a horrid 28.8%, according to RBSDM.com. They’re the only team under 30%. That doesn’t help their quarterbacks out.
Full Yahoo! Sports Week 9 NFL power rankings
Fox Sports
Current Ranking: No. 23
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 25
Author: David Helman
Author’s Take:
The Raiders never allowed the Chiefs to truly pull away, but they also never felt like a real threat to beat Kansas City on Sunday. That’s a fitting description for the entire season in Las Vegas to this point.
Full Fox Sports Week 9 NFL power rankings
Sharp Football
Current Ranking: No. 27
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 26
Author: Pamela Maldonado
Author’s Take:
The Raiders have fallen to a 2-6 record after losing to the Chiefs 27-20. They struggled offensively, recording their worst offensive performance of the season. They finished with just 228 total yards and a mere 33 rushing yards. Head coach Antonio Pierce’s game management has come under scrutiny. The Raiders face the Cincinnati Bengals next followed by a bye week in Week 10. After the bye, they have challenging matchups against teams like the Dolphins, Broncos, and Chiefs again, painting a bleak picture for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Full Sharp Football NFL Week 9 power rankings
The Athletic
Current Ranking: No. 26
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 26
Author: Josh Kendall
Author’s Take:
The Raiders are averaging 79 rushing yards per game. Since 2000, the only time they have averaged less was in 2014 (77.5 per game). That team went 3-13, and this one might be on the way to that. Alexander Mattison led Las Vegas on Sunday with 14 carries for 15 yards. As a group, the Raiders rushed 26 times for 33 yards. That’s gross.
Full The Athletic NFL Week 9 power rankings