Klint Kubiak has made quite an impact in his inaugural season as head coach, and it’s not just about the undefeated 3-0 record. What’s more telling is the manner in which the Raiders are winning. Currently, they sit at 7th in points scored, a significant improvement from their 32nd ranking in 2025. Defensively, they’ve also jumped to 8th in points allowed, up from 25th last year. With key offseason signings like Kirk Cousins, Tyler Linderbaum, and Quay Walker, the Raiders have transformed into a Top-10 team on both offense and defense, riding a wave of confidence.
Here are our NFL Power Rankings for Week 4, followed by a closer look at the most significant risers and fallers.
Biggest rise: Las Vegas Raiders (+11)
The intriguing part about the Raiders is that they still have room for improvement. Week 3 marked the return of Brock Bowers to the receiving corps, and it didn’t go unnoticed—he recorded 10 catches for 116 yards. His combination with Tre Tucker, who’s having a breakout year, has made this offense quite formidable. Plus, with Ashton Jeanty also stepping up recently, there’s a sense of potential brewing.
Is this a team destined for the playoffs? Perhaps not, especially with the challenging schedule ahead and the tough competition in the AFC West. Still, the Raiders are performing far beyond what many expected. It feels like the most optimistic the franchise has been in over ten years.
Biggest fall: Houston Texans (-13)
Sure, the Texans have faced their share of injuries, but really, they’ve run out of excuses. Many teams deal with key player losses, yet some are still managing to secure wins. Houston, however, remains winless at 0-3 and finds themselves at the bottom of the AFC South. It’s worth noting that their upcoming schedule only escalates in difficulty.
The offense bears much of the blame, with C.J. Stroud struggling behind a porous offensive line. The defense isn’t doing them any favors either, allowing 25.0 points per game and sitting at 19th in total defense—a dismal performance that can’t continue.
Team to watch: New Orleans Saints (No. 19)
While the Saints are currently ranked 19th, there’s a feeling that this could change soon. They are either on the brink of climbing back up the rankings or facing a decline, depending on their upcoming match against the Falcons on Monday Night Football.
So far, the Saints hold a 1-2 record but have been competitive, keeping games tighter than anticipated. This divisional matchup should be within their reach based solely on the talent on the roster. If they secure a win, it might be time to start considering them as serious playoff contenders. Conversely, a loss could significantly reshape that narrative.
