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Las Vegas Raiders slide in some NFL Power Rankings despite win against Miami Dolphins

The Las Vegas Raiders launched their prior campaign on a high note by overcoming the New England Patriots, an opening victory where everything seemed to click under Pete Carroll. That momentum vanished quickly as the year progressed, prompting the organization to dismiss Carroll, deal away quarterback Geno Smith, and embark on a rebuild.

On September 13, Las Vegas opened its 2026 schedule with an identical winning outcome, posting 27 points in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. Despite the early triumph, troubling deficiencies emerged during the contest, sparking warnings of upcoming trouble and contributing to a slip across multiple NFL Power Rankings.