As predicted, it took the Las Vegas Raiders playing a close game with the Kansas City Chiefs to finally start earning some respect. While that may sound backwards, after watching the three teams that the Raiders have beaten struggle in Week 4, barely losing to the Chiefs might be their most striking feat.
It will still take a long time until the consensus shifts to the Raiders being recognized as a contender, but the tide is already starting to turn. A few brave media members and former players are beginning to stand somewhat alone and hold conviction in their belief in the Silver and Black and Klint Kubiak.
And that is showing up in the power rankings yet again. Just like last week, this Las Vegas team is on the rise, sneaking up the board ever so lightly, on average, despite the defeat at the hands of Kansas City. Let's see where each notable outlet has the Raiders ranked after Week 4.
Raiders post-Week 4 power rankings see steady rise for Klint Kubiak's team after narrow loss to Chiefs
FanSided - Jason La Canfora
Current - 11
Last Week - 11
"Special teams cost them this game. They bested the team that is No. 1 in these rankings in the other two categories or at least played them even. Maxx Crosby takes one play off, and they get gutted. But they fought til the end, and people around the league are taking them quite seriously."
Our take: La Canfora is right that special teams cost the Raiders in a lot of ways. Keeping them in the same spot at No. 11 also makes sense, as it is hard to move a team up too much following a loss. But the best part of this ranking is that Las Vegas barely trails the Denver Broncos, who sit at No. 9...
And it is good that folks around the NFL are taking the Silver and Black seriously. At long last.
ESPN
Current - 11
Last Week - 14
"Something special is brewing.
"Even after the Raiders' heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs, there's a sense that first-time coach Klint Kubiak is building something special in Las Vegas. The Raiders were competitive for four quarters against Kansas City. They are better than expected and should be a competitive team each week, especially with quarterback Kirk Cousins playing at a high level. With the Chargers 0-4 and the Broncos 2-2, it's not crazy to suggest Las Vegas can make a playoff run in Year 1 of the Kubiak era."
Our take: Ryan McFadden, the Raiders' local ESPN beat writer, is correct that something special is brewing in Las Vegas. And they are picking a good year to seemingly figure it out, as both the Broncos and Chargers have struggled out of the gate and also have hellish schedules coming up.
NFL.com - Nick Shook
Current - 12
Last Week - 10
"There are no moral victories here, but the Raiders sure have plenty to be proud of after their narrow Week 4 loss to Kansas City. The upstart Las Vegas squad battled with big brother for four quarters and nearly handed the Chiefs their first loss of 2026. Kirk Cousins is playing fantastically, and the defensive additions have helped transform the team from an also-ran into a squad that deserves a ton of respect. I'm not sure how the story will end, but I'm glad we're along for the ride."
Our take: Shook is spot-on: there are no moral victories, and this Raiders team may be too good to even talk about them. But battling with Kansas City is a big thing, and if Kirk Cousins can keep up this level of play, then this Las Vegas team can keep surprising people.
Fox Sports - Ralph Vacchiano
Current - 14
Last Week - 20
"Hello, Raiders fans! You happy yet? Probably not.
"But you’ve got to give me this much: This is an enormous, unprecedented jump in the rankings for a team coming off a loss. Despite a 30-27 defeat to the Chiefs, they showed (me) that their 3-0 start was real. They KC in the fourth quarter, their defense did a number on Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins was mostly fantastic.
"Really, if it weren’t for a fourth-quarter fumbled kickoff return, they probably win. Klint Kubiak gets my early vote for NFL Coach of the Year. "
Our take: Maybe Vacchiano wouldn't look ridiculous for moving a losing team up six spots if he had Las Vegas more appropriately slotted at this time last week. But I digress. He is correct that this game could have been won if not for a fumble, and that Kubiak is at least in the Coach of the Year convo.
The Athletic - Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
Current - 13
Last Week - 12
"The Raiders lost, but they’ve got to come away from Sunday’s game feeling pretty good. They’ve already matched their win total from a year ago. New coach Klint Kubiak is exceeding expectations, and even 38-year-old Kirk Cousins is slinging it. There’s not a lot to be worried about in Vegas given what this season could’ve looked like."
Our take: In a way, I agree with this take because the Raiders have already matched last year's win total, and everything else is just gravy. But Las Vegas has also proven to be capable of much more than anyone thought, so to have a letdown now would be disappointing. Let's just shoot for the stars.
Sports Illustrated - Conor Orr
Current - 10
Last Week - 9
"Column on the arrival of Mark Davis finally making a coaching hire who lets his actions do the talking."
Our take: Not much analysis from Orr, who referred us to his column, but it's a great read if you have the time. And Orr's analysis is astute: The Raiders arrived on Sunday, whether anyone in the NFL likes it or not. That's why they remain high in his rankings despite the loss.
Bleacher Report
Current - 10
Last Week - 11
"For the first time this season, the Las Vegas Raiders came up short, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, but their contender credentials are genuine after entering last week at No. 11 in our power rankings.
"While aggressive, the Raiders will miss the mark at times, but they're good enough to hang with the NFL's upper-echelon teams. Keep in mind that playoff-caliber clubs have a better chance of capitalizing on Las Vegas' mistakes."
Our take: Moe Moton hits it on the head here, as the Raiders officially got their contender credentials by battling the Chiefs. Perhaps Kubiak's team was a bit too aggressive, but fans would rather have that than the opposite. Las Vegas still needs to beat good teams, but they showed that they can.
Average Rank - 11.6
Average Rank Last Week - 12.4
Average Change - +0.8
Highest Rank - 10 (Sports Illustrated & Bleacher Report)
Lowest Rank - 14 (Fox Sports)
Biggest Rise - 6 (Fox Sports)
Biggest Drop - 2 (NFL.com)
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