Friday, October 23, 2020

Las Vegas Raiders Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Las Vegas Raiders rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 11.6 (11th)
  • Best ranking: 4th (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 15th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Raiders in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 11

They come off their bye with a Sunday night matchup against Tampa. The Raiders are 3-2 with a minus-1 point differential through five games. Given how efficient their offense has been (fifth in EPA per snap), the Raiders have a legitimate chance to make a playoff push.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 15

After their bye, they are home for a Monday night game against Tampa Bay. Win that one and they will have a lot of believers.

USA Today -- Rank: 4

Derek Carr paces NFL with 73.1% completion rate, his 115.9 QB rating ranks second, he's thrown just one INT -- yet is striking deep. Time to start mentioning his name in the MVP conversation ... especially with my recency bias still shining on Las Vegas.

ESPN -- Rank: 15

Most impactful injury: RT Trent Brown

Before last week's signature win at Kansas City, Brown had played just three snaps due to a cranky calf. Once he returned, Las Vegas' offensive line had a decidedly different look. Quarterback Derek Carr, with more time to let plays develop downfield, let it fly, throwing long passes to Henry Ruggs and Nelson Agholor. The vertical game was a welcome return for Raider Nation, and a healthy Brown helped make it happen. With the Buccaneers and their fierce pass rush up next -- Tampa Bay's 22 sacks are the second most in the league -- Brown needs to stay on point. -- Paul Gutierrez

NFL.com -- Rank: 13

"Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the bye weeks, I never really have been," Jon Gruden told the media with a smile last week. You might feel that way, too, if your team was sent into hibernation fresh off a convincing win over the defending Super Bowl champs. Beating up on Patrick Mahomes recalibrated expectations, and it will be interesting to see which version of the Raiders show up for Sunday night's prime-time showdown with the Bucs. You know Derek Carr has had this game circled for months: On the day he moved to Las Vegas, Carr discovered Tom Brady on the front of the local newspaper, a discovery he said added a "little fuel to the fire." Outplaying Brady in front of Al, Cris and the world would be a huge moment for a QB on a seemingly eternal Dangerfield-like hunt for respect.

Previous update: Las Vegas Raiders Week 6 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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