After a 3-0 start to the season was followed up by a competitive game against a tough Chiefs team, the Raiders moved into the top ten in many power rankings. Now, after a big loss in New England, things have headed back in the other direction.
Nate Davis, USA Today -- 15
Last week: 11
The 3-0 start was cute. But they're failing fast now that they've hit the brutally legitimate stretch of their schedule. Don't be surprised if the Silver and Black is 4-8 when they hit their Week 13 bye, which could mean a lot more Fernando Mendoza cameos.
Chad Graff and Josh Kendall, The Athletic -- 17
Last week: 13
The Raiders were exposed Sunday after a strong start to the season, largely on the back of wins over bad teams. But this trip to New England revealed a lot of flaws for Klint Kubiak and company. The defense was a total mess, allowing
six touchdowns on 10 real drives.
Nick Shook, NFL media -- 19
Last week: 12
The Raiders finally became the overmatched team we expected to see in 2026. Las Vegas’ defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed on Sunday, surrendering over 500 yards of offense to a unit that seemed lost just two weeks prior. An inability to protect Kirk Cousins (plus a continued lack of production from the ground game) prevented the offense from keeping up in a blowout loss. It’s certainly not time to consider benching Cousins for Fernando Mendoza, but the Raiders have officially encountered their first pothole and will need to divert accordingly in order to sustain the momentum built by a strong start.
NFL Nation, ESPN -- 17
Last week: 6
Rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses had a strong start, being named the AFC's Defensive Player of the Week after the Raiders' Week 2 win over the Chargers. But Masses has allowed nine catches, 155 yards, two touchdowns and a 60% completion rate the past three games. Against the Patriots, the Raiders' young trio of defensive backs -- Masses, rookie safety Treydan Stukes and second-year cornerback Darien Porter -- all struggled. Porter gave up a 49-yard reception to wide receiver Kyle Williams. Stukes gave up three catches for 59 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports -- 18
Last week: 10
Their 3-0 start looks like a long time ago after two straight losses, including the embarrassing loss to the Patriots Sunday. The next two weeks aren't any easier with the Bills and Rams on deck.
Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated -- 16
Last week: 10
While I’m not overreacting at all to the Fernando Mendoza appearance at the end of the Patriots blowout, I do wonder if three straight losses at least generates some conversation. Something tells me the Raiders are dug in on this, but .500 after six weeks will change a lot of minds.
Frankc Schwab, Yahoo! sports -- 12
Last week: 10
An early East Coast start against a Patriots team that felt energized after a win over the Bills was a tough spot for the Raiders. Still, it was a troubling performance on both sides of the ball. The Raiders' offense didn't get much going, and averaging 2.1 yards per carry was a big reason. Perhaps Ashton Jeanty, who was a game-time decision with foot and ankle injuries, should have sat for a week. He had 27 yards on 10 carries. Vegas' defense was shredded by Drake Maye, who had 374 yards and four touchdowns passing and another one rushing. The Raiders' defense hadn't been bad through four weeks, so it can be excused to a tough day against a good quarterback who is starting to heat up.
It's one bad game after four promising ones, so it's not time to panic. But the next two games will tell the story: The Raiders host the Bills and Rams the next two weeks.
Ralph Vacchiano, FOX sports -- 16
Last week: 14
It was bound to strike midnight on the Raiders' Cinderella story at some point, and it always figured to happen sooner rather than later. There’s still a lot to like about this growing Raiders team, including the play of veteran QB Kirk Cousins. But their running game, with RB Ashton Jeanty, is still not good, and their defense looked even worse on Sunday.
Las Vegas was torn apart for 536 yards by a Patriots team that had one good game before this one. Maybe it’s all about Pats QB Drake Maye, who is clearly back, or maybe the Raiders are just what we always thought they were before the 3-0 start.
Hang on tight, if you’re still a believer, because the Bills, Rams, 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos come up over the next six weeks. Ouch.
Average rank -- 16.25
Last week: 10.75
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: NFL Week 6 power rankings roundup: Raiders fall back to earth
