Week 15 NFL Power rankings roundup: Raiders own longest losing streak, still aren’t cellar dwellers

It’s kind of surprising that they aren’t at the bottom of most rankings

The Las Vegas Raiders’ Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially gives the Raiders the longest losing streak in the NFL at nine games, both active and for the entire 2024 season. However, most Power Rankings across the league still don’t have them as the worst team in the NFL heading into the final month of the campaign.

Yahoo!

29. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 29

If the season ended right now, the Raiders would have the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. What’s that worth in a draft that has no elite prospects? The Raiders would probably feel compelled to take a QB, whether that player is worth the top pick or not. — Frank Schwab

This is the great debate when it comes to the Raiders right now and won’t end until the NFL Draft is over. Granted, the arguments will likely continue into the fall as Raider Nation has never been one to back down from a “spirited conversation” on the internet. The top quarterbacks in this year’s class—Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward—are underwhelming compared to previous passers to come out of college. However, it’s impossible to win in this league without competent quarterback play and Las Vegas has found that out the hard way in 2024.

ESPN

31. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 31

Most shocking ranking: 32nd in the NFL in rushing

After grinding out a combined 494 yards on the ground in their final four games last season, averaging 123.5 yards per game, the Raiders had high hopes for the running game in 2024. Instead, Las Vegas is averaging 79.1 yards per game. But while Zamir White and Alexander Mattison have missed a combined eight games because of injury, former practice squad lifer Sincere McCormick is averaging 5.5 yards per carry in three games. Diamond in the rough, or more like fool’s gold? — Paul Gutierrez

McCromick’s ypc mark is tied for seventh among running backs with at least 20 carries over the last three weeks, one spot and 0.3 yards ahead of Derrick Henry. However, as Gutierrez mentions, the Raiders have seen this before with White last year. Expect the club to target another running back in the draft as having a one-two punch in the backfield has been an effective trend throughout the league, the Lions being the best example.

The Athletic

31. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 30

Breakout player: Running back Sincere McCormick

It doesn’t take much to stand out in Las Vegas, but McCormick has more going for him than just the best name in the NFL. An undrafted free agent in 2022, he hadn’t played in an NFL game until Week 5 this year. He didn’t get his first carry until Week 12. Now he has 175 yards on 32 carries after getting 15 chances and gaining a career-high 78 yards against the Buccaneers. — Josh Kendall

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

More McCormick love. Here’s another stat for ya; he’s averaging 3.66 yards per carry after first contact, per Pro Football Focus, which is 11th among backs with at least 20 carries over the last three weeks. Josh Jacobs is tied for 18th at 2.92 during that timeframe.

Bleacher Report

30. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 30

The Raiders will likely finish the season with a third-string quarterback, Desmond Ridder, who wasn’t on the roster at the beginning of the season. They had a nightmare of a campaign with star wide receiver Davante Adams requesting a trade, firing assistant coaches and concerning meetings. This team is headed for a two- or three-win season and a top-three pick in the 2025 draft. — Moe Moton

Moton highlights the dysfunction that the Silver and Black have endured this year and a lot of it falls on Antonio Pierce’s shoulders. Hence the speculation that the club will be looking for another new head coach next month.

Sports Illustrated

32. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 31

Good luck over there everyone! — Conor Orr

The only ranking that has the Raiders as the worst team in the league, and the analysis is short and sweet. It also includes a hyperlink to the video of Deion Sanders pleading with Pierce to draft his sons. For clarity, Sanders’ comments/the video are from February.