Oakland Raiders: Power ranking the remaining games by difficulty
By John Buhler
![MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 05: Derek Carr No. 4 and Marshawn Lynch No. 24 of the Oakland Raiders celebrate a touchdown during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 05: Derek Carr No. 4 and Marshawn Lynch No. 24 of the Oakland Raiders celebrate a touchdown during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjustblogbaby-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F11-2F870717384-oakland-raiders-v-miami-dolphin-jpg-850x560-ec3a6a2a8d3915bb38f86c2a1701b5d24a196a26e7f7a3279e1d3bfb70a299da.jpg)
AFC West. Week 17 (Away). Los Angeles Chargers. 5. player. 13.
Though it might not matter all that much given when this game is scheduled to happen, but the third easiest remaining came for the Raiders is on the road in Week 17 versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Again, this is a division rivalry game and one that the Raiders will be looking for revenge.
Oakland lost on a last-second field goal by Nick Novak to fall to 2-4 in Week 6. The Chargers are 3-5 on the year and could be out of the playoff picture entirely if they fall to 3-6 or 3-7 in the next two weeks. At the Jacksonville Jaguars and home for the Buffalo Bills are against two playoff-caliber teams in the AFC. It could be bad news for the Chargers.
Oakland cannot count this one as a win because we won’t know the state of these two AFC West rivals when they meet on New Year’s Eve. The Raiders could have anywhere between four and 10 wins by this final regular season game.
If Oakland is 8-7 or 9-6 and in need of that final win to get into the playoff picture, then playing in a soccer stadium against a displaced franchise could be exactly what the Silver and Black could need to get in. The Raiders would prefer to play this game earlier to gain momentum, but at least the final game of the season isn’t on the road at Kansas City, right?