Final NFL season power rankings round up: Despite up and down season, optimism building ahead of move to Sin City

NFL.com

Rank: 22

Previous: 23

There would be no Week 17 miracle for the Raiders, and a failed 2-point conversion attempt in the final seconds on Sunday meant there would be no win to close 2019, either. But pay special attention to Jon Gruden in the minutes after Derek Carr’s pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage, clinching a win for the Broncos. CBS cameras caught the coach with a smile on his face, his arm around defensive coordinator Paul Guenther before giving Carr a firm handshake with some genial eye contact on both ends. The season might have sputtered after that unlikely 6-4 start, but you get the feeling Gruden believes he is on the right track. With another good offseason -- and, remember, the Raiders were an Antonio Brown fiasco away from completing an offseason masterpiece in 2019 -- the future Las Vegas Raiders could be a bona fide playoff contender in their first season in the desert.

ESPN

Rank: 20

Previous: 19

SI.com

Rank: 21

Previous: 19

Pour one out for the Oakland Raiders. In 25 years since the move back from L.A., they went 160-240, with four playoff appearances and a Super Bowl loss. This was an encouraging season, but it’s on to Vegas.

Sporting News

Rank: 18

Previous: 16

The next time we rank the Raiders, they will be representing Las Vegas. Jon Gruden did a pretty good job in the end with a three-game improvement from 2018, staying in the AFC playoff hunt until the final week of the season.

USA Today

Rank: 22

Previous: 23

Playoff long shots came up snake eyes in Week 17. As Las Vegas relocation begins in earnest, will they deal Derek Carr a better hand of WRs?

CBS Sports

Rank: 21

Previous: 23

It’s on to Vegas for the Raiders. Is Derek Carr the quarterback once they start playing there?

Average Rank: 20.6

The Raiders end the season with an average power rank of 20.6. Despite losing five of their last six games, there seems to be optimism surrounding the organization as they make the move to Las Vegas.

The consensus among the different publications is that the Raiders are moving in the right direction after an overall job well done by Jon Gruden in his second year.