How can Raiders make playoffs? Here’s a scenario – and it includes a predictable loss to Chiefs
One season sure makes a lot of difference.
Last year at this time, the Oakland Raiders were 2-9 entering Week 13.
This season, the Raiders are 6-5 heading to Kansas City for an AFC West showdown on Sunday. Instead of checking to see if they’d get the first pick in the NFL Draft, the Raiders this year are checking to see if they can get into the playoffs in their last season in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas in 2020.
Here’s a look at the Raiders’ chances:
The last two wild cards are occupied by the Buffalo Bills (8-3) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5).
In the hunt are the Raiders, Indianapolis Colts (6-5), Tennessee Titans (6-5) and Cleveland Browns (5-6).
Here’s how we predict the records will be at the end of the season:
Raiders - Back in April we predicted Oakland to go 10-6. Of course, that didn’t include a loss to the Jets. Still, it’s within the realm of reason to see the Raiders lose to the Chiefs then win out against the Titans, Jaguars (last regular-season home game in Oakland), Chargers and Broncos.
Chiefs - The AFC West leader can virtually lock up the division with another win against Oakland. We predict 11-5 (defeat Raiders, lose to Patriots, defeat Broncos, defeat Bears, defeat Chargers).
Bills - It’s never easy playing Thanksgiving Day at Dallas. We predict 9-7 (lose to Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers and Patriots, defeat Jets).
Steelers - We predict 8-8 (defeat Browns, lose to Cardinals, defeat Bills, lose to Jets, lose to Ravens).
Colts - We predict 9-7 (defeat Titans, lose to Buccaneers, lose to Saints, defeat Panthers, defeat Jaguars).
Titans - We predict 7-9 (lose to Colts, lose to Raiders, defeat Texans, lose to Saints, lose to Texans).
Browns - We predict 7-9 (lose to Steelers, defeat Bengals, lose to Cardinals, lose to Ravens, defeat Bengals).
Arrowhead struggles
Arrowhead Stadium hasn’t been kind to the Raiders lately.
Since 2013, Oakland is 0-6 at Arrowhead after going 6-0 from 2007-2012.
When Jon Gruden was the coach in his first stint as the Raiders coach, his teams went 3-1 in Kansas City.
Gruden recalls the 1999 season-finale in particular, saying “we hadn’t had any success against the Chiefs” until beating them 41-38 in overtime. That result lifted Oakland to 8-8 for the second straight year but knocked the Chiefs out of playoff contention. And Oakland made the playoffs the next three seasons culminating in the Raiders’ last Super Bowl trip.
“But that’s a long time ago,” Gruden said.
About Sunday’s game: This is great for NFL fans and football and we’re excited to have a meaningful game this time of year against the Chiefs.”
