The Las Vegas Raiders have officially entered the realm of irrelevance. After a 31–6 embarrassment at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, the team heads into its Week 8 bye at 2–5, battered, uninspired, and completely adrift. Once again, the Raiders find themselves on the wrong side of every major NFL Power Ranking — a grim reflection of a franchise stuck in perpetual mediocrity, or perhaps worse, outright regression.
The loss in Kansas City wasn’t just another defeat. It was a total collapse — mental, physical, and emotional. The Raiders ran a mere 30 offensive plays the entire game, while surrendering 31 points. The Chiefs did whatever they pleased on offense, and Las Vegas looked unprepared from the first snap. As Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr bluntly summarized, “The Raiders ran 30 plays on Sunday. Thirty. Plays.” Sometimes, nine words say more than a thousand could.
It was one of the worst performances in recent franchise memory — and considering the Raiders’ last two decades, that’s saying something.
A Team Without Fight, Direction, or Identity
Through seven weeks, the Raiders have been outscored by double digits in four of their five losses, and three of those defeats were by 17 points or more. The Week 1 win over a surprisingly competitive New England Patriots team feels like a relic of a distant past. Since then, Las Vegas has been consistently overwhelmed and underprepared.
What makes this stretch especially painful is not just the losing, but the manner in which the team is losing. The Raiders aren’t just being beaten — they’re being dominated, outclassed, and outcoached. Against Kansas City, they looked lifeless, registering only three first downs to the Chiefs’ 30. That kind of disparity doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of a team that has lost its confidence, creativity, and cohesion.
Bleacher Report: “Struggling Just to Be Competitive”
Bleacher Report didn’t hold back in its latest power rankings, labeling the Raiders as a team “struggling just to be competitive.” When a franchise’s highlight reel for the past month involves punts and moral victories, the writing is on the wall.
What’s perhaps most alarming is how little improvement has been visible week to week. The same issues that plagued the Raiders in September — poor offensive execution, lack of defensive communication, and uninspired play-calling — remain unaddressed deep into October. Even basic situational awareness, like third-down efficiency and time of possession, continues to haunt this team.
NFL.com: “You Don’t Just Bury the Tape — You Burn It”
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm captured the Raiders’ disastrous outing with biting humor:
“You don’t just bury the game tape. You first burn it with fire, and then douse it with sulfuric acid.”
It’s hard to argue with that assessment. Las Vegas ran 30 plays and gave up 31 points, a statistic that feels almost impossible in the modern NFL. Defensively, the Raiders allowed the Chiefs to dictate tempo and execution with ease. Even though the final score didn’t look like a blowout, anyone watching knew Kansas City could have doubled its total if it wanted to.
Adding insult to injury, the Raiders’ offensive game plan made no sense. With top pass-catchers Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers sidelined, the team leaned on an erratic Geno Smith, who is clearly in the midst of a season-long slump. Meanwhile, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, one of the few bright spots this year, touched the ball just seven times — and only once in the game’s first 20 minutes.
Jeanty still managed 34 yards, which accounted for 36% of the team’s total offense. When a single rookie running back represents over a third of your total yardage, something is fundamentally broken.
Sports Illustrated: “Thirty Plays — That’s All You Need to Know”
Few outlets captured the Raiders’ misery more succinctly than Sports Illustrated. The nine-word review — “The Raiders ran 30 plays on Sunday. Thirty. Plays.” — was less a critique and more a eulogy.
The Raiders’ offense didn’t just stall; it completely vanished. No rhythm, no urgency, and certainly no answers. Chip Kelly, now the highest-paid offensive coordinator in football, appears out of sync with his personnel. Geno Smith, once seen as a steady veteran presence, looks uncomfortable and unsure of his reads. The result? A unit that managed three first downs the entire game.
When the Raiders moved to Las Vegas in 2020, fans hoped the team would leave its dysfunction behind in Oakland. Instead, the dysfunction seems to have followed them to the desert — only now, it comes with brighter lights and harsher scrutiny.
The Athletic: “They’re in Free Fall”
The Athletic placed Las Vegas at No. 28 in its Week 8 rankings, down two spots from the week prior. Their blunt summary said it all:
“Reality check: They’re in free fall.”
Four losses in the last five games — the lone win coming against a struggling Tennessee Titans squad — have all but extinguished any playoff hopes. The offense is in complete disarray, and the defense, while occasionally competent, can’t keep up with the lack of scoring support.
Perhaps the most concerning development is that the Raiders seem to be regressing under their new coaching staff, not improving. Chip Kelly, tasked with reviving the offense, has failed to establish any rhythm or adaptability. The Geno Smith experiment, too, appears headed for an unceremonious end.
If Kelly and Smith don’t turn things around after the bye, both could be gone before next season — making it five different offensive coordinators and five starting quarterbacks in as many years since the franchise relocated.
ESPN: “A Lone Bright Spot Amid the Chaos”
While most headlines surrounding the Raiders are bleak, ESPN did find one silver lining: defensive tackle Jonah Laulu. The second-year player, a seventh-round pick, has quietly become one of the team’s few consistent performers.
Laulu is tied for a team-high four sacks, alongside 14 pressures, six quarterback hits, and four run stuffs. When he’s on the field, opposing teams average just 3.1 yards per carry, showcasing his effectiveness in both run defense and interior pressure.
Head coach Pete Carroll praised his young defender:
“He’s playing great football. It’s not just size or speed — it’s his heart, the intensity, and the technique. He’s winning one-on-ones and doing a tremendous job.”
Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics slightly differ — crediting Laulu with 13 pressures and six defensive stops — but the conclusion is the same: he’s one of the very few Raiders showing progress and passion.
Unfortunately, for every Jonah Laulu, there are three or four players underperforming. Injuries to Maxx Crosby and Adam Butler only deepen the defensive woes, leaving the team dangerously thin up front.
The Harsh Reality: The Raiders Have Hit Rock Bottom
At this point, it’s not just about losing games — it’s about how the Raiders are losing them. There’s a lack of energy, preparation, and belief that speaks to something deeper than just poor execution.
The roster construction remains a problem, with too many holes and not enough leadership. The coaching staff looks disjointed, unsure of how to adjust or inspire. And while injuries to key players have certainly played a role, the issues go far beyond health.
The Raiders are one of the worst teams in football, and the power rankings reflect that consensus. Sitting between 28th and 30th across major outlets, the Silver and Black are firmly planted in the NFL’s basement.
Where Do They Go from Here?
The upcoming bye week offers a rare chance for reflection — and it needs to be used wisely. The Raiders must reassess their priorities. Is it time to give younger players, like Darien Porter and Ashton Jeanty, more opportunities? Should the team start evaluating whether Geno Smith is worth keeping beyond this season?
There’s also the looming question of Pete Carroll’s tenure. Hired for his experience and leadership, Carroll has yet to instill the culture of competitiveness that defined his Seattle years. If the losing continues, the Raiders’ front office might be forced to make tough decisions about the direction of the franchise.
Final Thoughts: From Contenders to Afterthoughts
In the NFL, perception matters — and right now, the Raiders are perceived as one of the league’s weakest, least organized teams. What began as a season of cautious optimism has spiraled into one of despair and disbelief.
The Raiders’ story in 2025 isn’t just about losing games; it’s about losing purpose. Until this organization finds a way to play with pride, creativity, and identity, power rankings will continue to serve as weekly reminders of how far they’ve fallen.
For now, the Raiders’ bye week offers a merciful pause — but unless drastic changes are made, it won’t take long for irrelevancy to become permanence.
Verdict: The Raiders aren’t just losing — they’re fading into the background of the NFL conversation. A once-proud franchise now finds itself fighting not for playoff contention, but for relevance itself.