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NFL Week 9 power rankings roundup: Raiders creep back up after win vs Jets
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- NFL Week 9 power rankings roundup: Raiders creep back up after win vs Jets
Sunday the Raiders snapped their four-game losing streak with a barn-burner against the Jets . While halting the losing streak is big, giving up 33 points to the Jets is not. So, how much will it matter in the power rankings? Let's see.
Raiders spot in NFL power rankings ahead of Week 9
Nate Davis, USA Today -- 15
Last week: 14
RB Ashton Jeanty has rushed for fewer than 50 yards in more than half of his 25 NFL starts. Not great.
Chad Graff and Josh Kendall, The Athletic -- 19
Last week: 24
It was a tough week for Jeanty. After he made disparaging comments about the Jets, ESPN commentator and former Jets head coach Rex Ryan called him "soft as Charmin." On Sunday, the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft was essentially benched for rookie Mike Washington. Jeanty finished with two carries for 9 yards, while Washington had 25 for 83.
Nick Shook, NFL media -- 20
Last week: 25
The aerial stylings of Kirk Cousins, Brock Bowers and the rest of the crew delivered again, ending the Raiders' four-game losing skid in a wild, back-and-forth affair against the Jets at MetLife Stadium. Like much of Las Vegas' 2026 season, I certainly didn't expect one development to emerge: Rookie Mike Washington Jr. has taken over as the bell cow in Silver and Black, while Ashton Jeanty has become Klint Kubiak's preferred third-down, pass-catching back -- and he's making a difference in that role. Jeanty caught three passes for 64 yards in the Raiders' comeback win on Sunday, adding some more dynamism to Vegas' air game.
NFL Nation, ESPN -- 20
Last week: 22
The Raiders bolstered their secondary by acquiring Haynes from the Patriots. The move was instrumental to winning a title that season, as he recorded an interception, two pass breakups and a tackle in Super Bowl XVIII against Washington. Haynes, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997, went on to play seven seasons with the Silver and Black. In 87 games (72 starts), he totaled 18 interceptions.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports -- 24
Last week: 22
They snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Jets. The offense had a nice day with Kirk Cousins playing well. Fernando Mendoza-time can wait.
Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated -- 17
Last week: 22
I can't be the only one who saw Klint Kubiak open the door just a smidge for Mike Washington Jr. and watched as Washington kicked the thing open, right? It's a different feel when the rookie out of Arkansas is in the backfield.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! sports -- 17
Last week: 22
It's hard for a franchise that hasn't had much success over the past few decades to have a level head over a solid start to the season. At 4-4, the Raiders can talk themselves into being playoff contenders. That makes it hard to be a seller. It would be an even harder thing to explain to longtime fans who are dying for a taste of success or a new fan base in Las Vegas that hasn't fully embraced the Raiders yet.
Realistically, the Raiders probably should be closer to sellers than they are to buyers. Could they find out if a team is willing to pay a heavy premium for Maxx Crosby like the Ravens (almost) did in March? It's not like the Ravens' concerns about Crosby's knee over the long term have vanished. However, ESPN reported the Raiders have no plans to trade Crosby. It also seems very unlikely the Raiders trade Kirk Cousins, but what if a desperate team is willing to overpay for a viable quarterback who already has 19 touchdown passes? Wouldn't they have to listen? It's not like Cousins is the future and they'll want to get Fernando Mendoza some valuable reps before the end of the season even if Cousins stays aboard. It seems foolish to be buyers when they're well behind the Broncos and Chiefs in the AFC West. And the big picture says that they should be quietly gauging the market on Crosby, Cousins and any others without long-term value, even if that would be unpopular to many Raiders fans.
Ralph Vacchiano, FOX sports -- 17
Last week: 20
The Raiders' snapped a four-game losing streak thanks to another impressive performance from QB Kirk Cousins. And yeah, it was only against the Jets, but the Raiders again look like a team that just won't go away. The best thing they did yesterday was finally bench RB Ashton Jeanty and give his job to the more impressive Mike Washington Jr., who ran for 83 yards on 25 carries. Jeanty did have three catches for 45 yards, so he still has a role. He just can't be the lead back anymore.
Average rank -- 18.625
Last week: 21.4
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This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: NFL Week 9 power rankings roundup: Raiders creep back up after win vs Jets
