To quote the great American philosopher Lloyd Virgil Christmas,“so, you’re telling me there’s a chance?”
After beating the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17 last weekend – and getting a little help from their friends around the league – the Silver and Black are still alive in the AFC playoff picture.
Now, to be clear, the chance certainly isn’t what one would call a great chance, but it’s a chance nevertheless, and that’s more than a lot of teams around the NFL can say at this juncture.
“It’s a great stride that we made,” said Head Coach Jon Gruden following the win over the Chargers. “We have a lot of new players, rookies and players that we signed here in the last six weeks. We’re doing everything we can to bring this franchise back. We have a long way to go, but today is an obvious step in the right direction.”
All kidding aside, as Coach Gruden said, the fact that the Silver and Black are playing meaningful football in the final week of December is a feat in and of itself, but allowing ourselves to look ahead just a little bit; how exactly do the Raiders make the postseason?
According to the NFL, this is what must happen Week 17 for the Silver and Black to extend their season.
The Raiders clinch a playoff berth with:
1. Raiders win + Steelers loss + Titans loss + Colts win + Raiders clinch strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Steelers*
*Raiders clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Steelers if ONE of the following teams win or tie:
Bears, Lions, Chargers or Patriots
If the Raiders can’t handle business and take down the Denver Broncos, none of those scenarios matter, but all the same, buckle up; Week 17 is going to be a lot of fun.
After beating the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17 last weekend – and getting a little help from their friends around the league – the Silver and Black are still alive in the AFC playoff picture.
Now, to be clear, the chance certainly isn’t what one would call a great chance, but it’s a chance nevertheless, and that’s more than a lot of teams around the NFL can say at this juncture.
“It’s a great stride that we made,” said Head Coach Jon Gruden following the win over the Chargers. “We have a lot of new players, rookies and players that we signed here in the last six weeks. We’re doing everything we can to bring this franchise back. We have a long way to go, but today is an obvious step in the right direction.”
All kidding aside, as Coach Gruden said, the fact that the Silver and Black are playing meaningful football in the final week of December is a feat in and of itself, but allowing ourselves to look ahead just a little bit; how exactly do the Raiders make the postseason?
According to the NFL, this is what must happen Week 17 for the Silver and Black to extend their season.
The Raiders clinch a playoff berth with:
1. Raiders win + Steelers loss + Titans loss + Colts win + Raiders clinch strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Steelers*
*Raiders clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Steelers if ONE of the following teams win or tie:
Bears, Lions, Chargers or Patriots
If the Raiders can’t handle business and take down the Denver Broncos, none of those scenarios matter, but all the same, buckle up; Week 17 is going to be a lot of fun.
