Week 10 NFL power rankings roundup: Raiders’ roster ‘just not competitive enough’

Firings and injuries push Las Vegas down this week’s power rankings

Week 10 brings a much-needed bye week for the Las Vegas Raiders. The team sits at 2-7 and decided to fire three offensive coaches, including coordinator Luke Getsy, and Las Vegas’ quarterback controversy continues during the second half of the season.

So, it’s time to hit the reset button which doesn’t bode well for the Raiders’ standing within NFL power rankings as the team’s roster and coaching staff have come into question.

NFL.com

Last week: 29

The blowout loss to the Bengals had pretty big effects, as the Raiders benched Gardner Minshew midgame and then fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. They now get to chew over more potential changes and how the second half of the season will go, with the bye week upon them. In fact, the franchise just brought back one of its former head coaches, Norv Turner, hiring him as an assistant on Tuesday. The Raiders went into Sunday’s game down a quarterback (Aidan O’Connell) and their starting center (Andre James), and they already traded their best receiver (Davante Adams) to the Jets a few weeks ago. Losing several key players (including left tackle Kolton Miller and backup Andrus Peat) during the game certainly didn’t help. But that also leads us back to the roster, which is just not competitive enough. Las Vegas didn’t make any major upgrades at QB and hasn’t gotten enough from Minshew, who has eight interceptions and five fumbles and now has been benched three separate times. The Raiders simply are not talented enough to compete in a division with the Chiefs and the improved Chargers and Broncos. — Eric Edholm

It’s fair to say the Raiders’ roster is “just not competitive enough” as their record proves that. Also, the team clearly lacks depth as they haven’t been able to overcome their injuries and it was well known that was an issue heading into the season.

However, the Silver and Black are starting to get good contributions from rookies Brock Bowers, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze and Decamarion Richardson. Consistency is still an issue for those young players, except for Bowers, but all have shown promise and Tom Telesco’s first draft class is looking solid so far to provide some optimism moving forward.

Sports Illustrated

31. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 29

I have a lot of curiosity around and sympathy for the interim-turned-full-time head coach, which is why I often try and measure my criticism. But Antonio Pierce is almost certainly assuring that another interim doesn’t get a job like this for a long time. Thrice benching his quarterback. Firing his offensive staff halfway through a season. Calling out his players. Failing to do the one thing—establish some kind of identity—that he managed to do post-Josh McDaniels. My only curiosity is what direction new minority owner Tom Brady goes from here as a player who has only known stability. — Connor Orr

In fairness to Pierce, he only wanted to bench Minshew twice and Aidan O’Connell breaking a thumb is the reason why Minshew was back in the starting lineup. That being said, the Raiders do lack an identity and that falls on the head coach’s shoulders. I’ve mentioned recently that I think AP will get another season. However, my confidence level in that take diminishes by the week. In my opinion, Pierce firing coaches that he hired less than a year ago is a C.Y.A. move and signals that his seat is, at the least, warm.

Bleacher Report

Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

28. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 26

After their 41-24 loss to the Bengals, the Raiders went on a firing spree. They’re now headed into their Week 10 bye without offensive direction. The Raiders will emerge from their week off as a much different team, but it won’t change much. They’re an injury-riddled squad with a major quarterback problem that Gardner Minshew nor Desmond Ridder can solve this year. — Moe Moton

Las Vegas will likely use the rest of the season to evaluate Ridder and potentially O’Connell when O’Connell gets healthy, but expectations should be low, as Moton suggests. It’s time to break out the NFL Draft film and start evaluating Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and the rest of the 2025 quarterback class.

ESPN

31. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 25

Most important game remaining: Week 11 at the Dolphins

Or, the next one. And why not? The Raiders will be coming off their bye week with a new offensive playcaller in place, new position coaches at QB and O-line and perhaps a new starting quarterback in Desmond Ridder. Coach Antonio Pierce says he is using the bye week to “reset” the season for the Raiders, who are riding a five-game losing streak for the first time since 2018. Obviously, the most important game for such a team is its next one. — Paul Gutierrez

It will be interesting to see how much of a difference Scott and Norv Turner make against Miami two Sundays from now. But those two don’t have a magic wand that will make the quarterback situation dramatically better. Hopefully, the Turner duo can at least make the offense look more functional as Scott auditions to keep the full-time offensive coordinator job over the next seven games.

The Athletic

26. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 26

Something nice: Brock Bowers’ 57 catches

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is the only player in the league with more catches than the Raiders’ rookie tight end. Bowers’ 300 yards after the catch are 10th in the league, according to TruMedia. He is the target on 24.5 percent of the Raiders pass attempts, the highest percentage for any tight end in the league. Bowers had five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown (his second) on Sunday. — Josh Kendall

We’ll end on a high note as The Athletic seems to be the biggest proponent of Las Vegas in the media. Also, we have to get our fix of Bowers stats for the week, right?