Saturday, November 20, 2021

Las Vegas Raiders Week 11 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 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: 18.2 (19th)
  • Best ranking: 16 (CBS Sports)
  • Worst ranking: 20 (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 11 roundup for the Raiders in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 18

Most important remaining game: Sunday vs. Bengals

Yes, Sunday at home against the Bengals. No, there's not some huge, old-school beef to settle due to Ickey Woods or Ken Anderson. It's just that the Raiders' season is threatening to spiral out of control -- again -- and until Las Vegas wins a game, it will simply become more of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or did you not see a 6-4 start in 2019 turn into a 7-9 finish or the 6-3 start last year end at 8-8? These Raiders started 5-2, and after embarrassing defeats at the Giants and home to the Chiefs, they look nothing like their former selves. -- Paul Gutierrez

NFL.com -- Rank: 20

Is it happening again? Raiders fans hoped this season would be different than the two that preceded it, but Sunday night's 41-14 loss to the Chiefs felt like a harbinger of doom. In Week 9, the offense faltered on the road against the Giants. In prime time at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday night, it was the defense that faltered against a version of Patrick Mahomes that Silver & Black fans hoped was staying in witness protection. At 5-4, the Raiders remain in the thick of the AFC West race, but it's fair to wonder if Vegas and the rest of the division had its chance to run away and hide from the Chiefs ... and squandered it. Ready or not, here they come.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 16

The Raiders have defensive issues that showed up against the Chiefs. Two straight losses have them reeling.

USA Today -- Rank: 20

As their controversies cascade and talent erodes, hard to believe that a team which has now lost four of six -- and in convincing fashion -- is headed anywhere other than a teardown.

The Athletic -- Rank: 17

Steal a player: Derwin James, Chargers safety

If Jon Gruden were still the Raiders coach, we're not sure we could have resisted "stealing" Khalil Mack from the Bears here. But Gruden's gone and, for once, the pass rush is not among the Raiders' biggest concerns. Instead, we'll continue the trend of Gus Bradley collecting his former players from the Chargers (where he was the defensive coordinator) or the Jaguars (where he was head coach). Bradley only got to coach James in 21 games during their three years together, because of injuries in 2019 and 2020. And the Raiders could certainly use a rangy, versatile, maybe even generational defensive back like James to put in the backfield with Johnathan Abram.

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