The Oakland Raiders entered Week 13 knowing it would be a cold-weather slugfest with the Kansas City Chiefs, but costly turnovers forced things to get out of hand rather quickly. The Silver and Black are riding a two-game losing streak, but still can keep their playoff hopes alive with a win over the Tennessee Titans at home this Sunday.
Here are the Week 14 Power Rankings:
Current Ranking: 15
Previous Ranking: 13
Analysis:
Things have gone sideways in a flash for the Raiders. Back-to-back losses have dropped Oakland to 6-6 and out of the race in the AFC West. The playoffs are still a possibility via the wild-card route, but it's hard to get too excited about a team that's been outscored 74-12 over the course of eight days. Derek Carr isn't fond of the reputation that he can't win in the cold, but performances like we saw at Arrowhead with a kickoff temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit won't do much to alter the narrative. Carr threw two interceptions, including the game-icing pick-six in the second quarter, and struggled to create any spark with a wide receiver group that combined for 8 yards receiving through three quarters. Silver & Black-related pessimism is understandable, but things will shift in a hurry if Oakland knocks off the surging Titans at the Black Hole. The Raiders have been a menace at home all year.
Current Ranking: 17
Previous Ranking: 17
Analysis:
Critics of the $125 million franchise quarterback are readying their pitchforks and torches with the Raiders blown out by a combined 74-12 the past two games to fall to 6-6. Yes, fans are a fickle sort, and Carr is quickly becoming one of the most polarizing figures in franchise history with his uneven play. But if Carr can right the ship in two consecutive home games, against the Titans and Jaguars, and then sweep the Chargers and Broncos on the road to close the season, his seat will cool down considerably heading to Las Vegas.
Current Ranking: 16
Previous Ranking: 13
Analysis:
The Raiders' home game against the Titans in Week 14 looks like a must-win for Oakland if it wants to stay in the wild-card hunt. The schedule after that is manageable. But after being outscored 74-12 the past two weeks, the Raiders might have already hit the wall.
Current Ranking: 20
Previous Ranking: 20
Analysis:
Not that long ago, the Oakland Raiders appeared to have turned a corner. The Raiders won three in a row to make it to 6-4 and were in the mix for a wild-card spot.
After being outscored 74-12 over the past two games, it now looks like the Raiders turned a corner all right—into the path of an oncoming bus.
There hasn't been much that's gone right for the Raiders over the last two weeks. The team has been sloppy with the football, turning it over five times. Oakland's 20th-ranked defense has struggled to get off the field. And the team's lack of a No. 1 receiver becomes more evident every time the team falls behind.
Still, there's been at least one bright spot. With his fifth 100-yard rushing effort of the season against the Chiefs, Josh Jacobs became the first rookie running back in franchise history to top 1,000 yards. And while the Raiders are slumping, the team still has a puncher's chance at notching a .500 season.
Glass half-full, right?
Current Ranking: 18
Previous Ranking: 15
Analysis:
The potential to be a playoff team has faded in a big way the past two weeks. The defense has regressed some, but the offense hasn't helped.
