Latest updates on Raiders’ path to postseason and what the NFL playoff picture looks like
.JPG "Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) in a team huddle during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J.")
The Las Vegas Raiders are in midst of a playoff push, still in control of their fate but needing to win out to guarantee they get in.
Having three consecutive home games at Allegiant Stadium certainly helps, but they need to protect homefield, which they haven’t done much of this season going 2-3 in their first-year home stadium.
However, hope remains for the Raiders to clinch their first postseason berth since the 2016 season. And it may be in their best interests to root for ... the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs?
The Nos. 5, 6, 7 seeds in each conference are the wild-card spots in this year’s NFL playoff field. In the AFC, those final postseason bids currently are held by the Cleveland Browns (9-3), Miami Dolphins (8-5) and Indianapolis Colts (9-4).
The Raiders lost to the Colts 44-27.
According to Football Outsiders, the Raiders have a 40% chance simply to qualify for a berth. They are rated to have a 9.4% shot at the fifth seed and 14.3% to finish No. 7. By a quirk of the mathematical formulas, their highest chance at any particular seed is at 17% to finish as sixth.
A look at some scenarios:
Colts beat Raiders ...
A Raiders loss this week doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their playoff drive.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr have mentioned they are treating the regular season now as if it is a single-elimination tournament. But they’d be alive for at least one more week.
There is still hope for the Raiders:
▪ The Chiefs defeated the Dolphins.
▪ Cleveland must beat the Baltimore Ravens at home Monday night.
That would put the Browns at No. 5, Indianapolis at No. 6 and Miami at No. 7.
The Raiders and Ravens would remain at Nos. 8 and 9 going into Week 15.
The Raiders probably can’t afford any more losses since the Ravens have an easier path and likely would win their remaining games (vs. Jaguars, Giants and at Bengals).
The Dolphins close out against New England and Buffalo.
Where teams stand in the AFC
The division leaders
1. Kansas City 12-1
2. Pittsburgh 11-2
3. Buffalo 11-3
4. Tennessee 9-4
AFC Wild Cards (with games remaining)
5. Cleveland 9-4
- (loss to Baltimore, at New York Giants, at New York Jets, vs. Pittsburgh)
6. Indianapolis 9-4
- (won over Las Vegas, vs. Houston, at Pittsburgh, vs. Jacksonville)
7. Miami 8-5
- (loss to Kansas City, vs. New England, at Las Vegas, at Buffalo)
8. Baltimore 8-5
- (won over Cleveland, vs. Jacksonville, vs. New York Giants, at Cincinnati)
9. Las Vegas 7-7
- (loss to Indianapolis, loss to Los Angeles Chargers, vs. Miami Dolphins, at Denver Broncos)
This story was originally published December 12, 2020 at 11:04 PM.
