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2020 NFL Power Rankings: Las Vegas Raiders

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Las Vegas Raiders rank in terms of average, best and worst:

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Raiders in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 14

It'd be nice to see Jon Gruden coach the team he has, not the team he wants. The Raiders faced a fourth-and-1 from the Tampa 17 with 12:48 left. They were down 24-17 at the time, and their defense was getting shredded. But Gruden opted for a field goal to cut it to 24-20. The Buccaneers got the ball back and put together an 11-play touchdown drive that essentially ended the game. Statistically, the Raiders have the league's worst defense. If they're going to make a playoff push, they have to capitalize on every offensive opportunity and can't get conservative in those spots.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 17

The Bucs showed they have some big-time flaws on defense. They have to fix those quickly with Cleveland on tap.

USA Today -- Rank: 13

You're left wondering just how good this team could be if it merely showed more discipline off the field and between the lines.

ESPN -- Rank: 16

Who needs to step up: RT Trent Brown

The enigmatic and highly paid right tackle rarely practiced in training camp due to a cranky calf, played three snaps in the season opener after aggravating the injury and was a force in the Raiders' upset win at Kansas City on Oct. 11. Then he tested positive for COVID-19 last week, and because he was not wearing his tracker in the team facility, the four other starting offensive linemen had to self-quarantine and miss practice the rest of the week before facing a fearsome Tampa Bay defense. Since signing a four-year, $66 million deal with the Raiders, Brown has played 10-plus snaps in just 11 of 22 games. Las Vegas needs a better return on its investment. -- Paul Gutierrez

NFL.com -- Rank: 15

The Raiders passed on linebacker Devin White to select Clelin Ferrell with the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. You wonder if that was running through the minds of Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock on Sunday as White -- who went to Tampa Bay one pick after Ferrell in that draft -- destroyed the Raiders in a 45-20 Bucs win. White was everywhere, finishing with nine solo tackles, three sacks and one tackle for loss. While we're here, Ferrell has 11 solo tackles all season and has yet to register a sack or forced fumble. It's still early ... but it might not be too early to acknowledge the Raiders made a mistake.

Previous update: Las Vegas Raiders Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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