Raiders sit in the upper teens of Week 6 power rankings after third straight loss
Multiple national outlets slotted the Las Vegas Raiders in the upper teens of their Week 6 power rankings on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, after the team dropped its third straight game and fell to 3-3. NFL.com, ESPN, The Athletic and FOX Sports all placed the Raiders at No. 18, while Sports Illustrated ranked them No. 19 and CBS Sports listed them at No. 22. The range of placements reflected differing views on whether the results signal progress or deeper issues for the roster.
The rankings reflected competing evaluations of a roster still evolving. NFL.com and FOX Sports pointed to the Raiders’ competitiveness in narrow losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills as signs of progress, noting those close games offered valuable lessons against established AFC teams. NFL.com described the results as part of a process of evolving from “cellar-dweller to aspiring contender” and praised the team’s competitiveness despite the losses. By contrast, CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated emphasized the three-game skid as cause for concern and suggested the Raiders must stop losing close contests to maintain momentum.
Several outlets flagged the Raiders’ continuing run-game problems after Sunday, when the team totaled just 65 rushing yards against Buffalo. ESPN noted the Raiders signed center Tyler Linderbaum with the expectation he would shore up run blocking, but reported Linderbaum had difficulty handling Bills defensive tackle Deone Walker. ESPN also detailed a missed block by rookie guard Caleb Rogers that contributed to Ashton Jeanty being stopped for a 3-yard loss at the goal line in the fourth quarter. Those issues raised questions about the offensive line’s ability to sustain drives and finish in the red zone.
Analysts credited quarterback Kirk Cousins with sustaining a high level of play amid the team’s recent struggles. NFL.com and FOX Sports singled out Cousins’ performance as a positive, and The Athletic reported Cousins ranked 29th in fantasy scoring at 18.5 points per game. The Athletic likewise highlighted tight end Brock Bowers as pacing the Raiders’ offense, listing him 13th in scoring at 20.6 points per game. Those references framed Cousins and Bowers as central offensive pieces the Raiders can build around.
The team published a black-and-white photo gallery from the Week 6 matchup at Allegiant Stadium that included 27 images from game day and locker room scenes. Michael Clemens curated the gallery and captioned photos of players and equipment, including shots of Adam Butler’s locker, Brock Bowers’ pads and Kirk Cousins walking through the Champions Club. The images captured pregame preparation, sideline moments and locker-room detail that accompanied coverage of the contest. The gallery offered a visual complement to the power rankings and game analysis.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Raiders must address run-blocking inconsistencies and prioritize technique and communication along the interior line to convert short-yardage situations and open the ground game. ESPN identified Tyler Linderbaum and Caleb Rogers as focal points in the run-blocking struggles; coaches should evaluate assignments and matchup planning to limit breakdowns against interior defensive tackles like Deone Walker. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers are delivering reliable production, as noted by NFL.com, FOX Sports and The Athletic, and the team should lean on their playmaking while the line improves. If the trenches tighten, the Raiders will be better positioned to turn close losses into wins and halt the three-game slide.