Buy or Sell: Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
By Austin Gayle
Buy or Sell is a weekly series that will examine statements about the Oakland Raiders and provide a “buy” or “sell” response. This is the Week 9 edition.
The Oakland Raiders (7-2) claimed the sole lead in the AFC West beneath a national spotlight, as they defeated the Denver Broncos (6-3) in front a home crowd on Sunday Night football in Week 9, 30-20.
Only some of the Raiders’ fans remember this level of success coming from the Black Hole, leaving the rest of the fanbase to rejoice in unmatched optimism.
In an effort to keep the Raider Nation from reserving Super Bowl tickets, we examine some of the thoughts and opinions that have been discussed after Oakland’s biggest win of the season.
A statement will be given, and the answer will be given in a Buy/Sell format.
The Raiders are a Lock for the Playoffs.
Sell.
Nothing is guaranteed in this league, especially a playoff birth for an organization that has been on the outside looking in since 2002.
Yes, the Raiders are off to their best start since their Super Bowl appearance at the conclusion of the 2002 season, but their postseason aspirations will remain aspirations until they add a few more tallies to their win column.
With their win over the Broncos, Oakland is on the right track in terms of earning a spot in the playoffs, but their remaining schedule is capable of derailing the Silver and Black and halting their momentum.
After the bye week, the Raiders will travel to Mexico City to take on a struggling Houston Texans team that has yet to win on the road this season, but the fiesta won’t follow Oakland back into the United States.
Following what should be their eighth win of the season against the Texans, Oakland will square off against the Carolina Panthers (3-5) and the Buffalo Bills (4-4) before taking on all three of their division rivals on the road in their last four games of the season.
The Raiders will need to come out of that six-game stretch with at least two to three wins if they are going to secure a postseason appearance — a feat far from guaranteed.