Sep 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Andre Holmes (18) runs with the ball after making a catch against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Texans defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
After an 0-2 start to the 2014 season it is looking like the experts were fair in their assessment that the Oakland Raiders would be amongst the worst in the NFL after back to back 4-12 seasons. Dropping two straight games against teams that did not make the playoffs last year to begin the season, things aren’t going to get better in Oakland anytime soon as they face the Patriots on the road in Week 3 before travelling to London to face the Miami Dolphins the following week.
With a tough divisional schedule and non-division slate upcoming that includes the NFC West, ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight’s analytics have the Raiders more likely to go the rest of 2014 without a win than they are to make the postseason. Not surprising considering that the 0-2 Raiders are probably not going to be anywhere near the playoff hunt unless things start going in a completely different direction out of the blue.
The Oakland Raiders have just a 1% chance to make the playoffs -- and a 6% chance to go 0-16. http://t.co/KBQH9c7VGm
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) September 17, 2014
So you're saying there's a chance? @NateSilver538: #Raiders have 1% chance to make playoffs, 6% chance to go 0-16. http://t.co/0Q4hexA5Ca
— Raiders Beat (@RaidersBeat) September 17, 2014
#Raiders have a better chance to lose 14 straight games (6%) than make the playoffs (1%) according to @NateSilver538 (via @RaidersBeat)
— Just Blog Baby (@JustBlogBaby) September 17, 2014
It is doubtful that the Raiders go an entire season without winning like the 0-16 Detroit Lions thanks to a promising group of rookies and a mix of veterans that will hopefully not mail it in completely should struggles continue. However it might be more likely than making the playoffs as after the 0-2 start it is hard to see the Raiders getting enough wins against the likes of the Patriots, Niners, Seahawks, Cardinals and the divisional matchups they have to get into the Wild Card picture. This team should win a game, but the numbers may be close to correct in the odds being closer to not winning entirely than going 9-5 the rest of the season to potentially make the playoffs as a Wild Card.