5 takeaways from the NFL during the Oakland Raiders’ bye
By John Buhler
![MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 05: Derek Carr No. 4 of the Oakland Raiders of the Oakland Raiders celebrates 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 of the Oakland Raiders of the Oakland Raiders celebrates 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-2F2017-2F11-2F870717186-oakland-raiders-v-miami-dolphin-jpg-850x560-6132068b1a3faef3ce474cce25600691e7a60834b8c07161814d8b8025ea5ff0.jpg)
2. The AFC South is getting two teams in: Jacksonville and Tennessee.
There were just two bad realizations for the Raiders while watch the AFC from afar in Week 10. The first observation we’ll address is this: Yes, the AFC South is getting two teams in the playoffs. Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans are 6-3.
While Oakland does have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Titans, they are two wins better than the Raiders through nine games. The Raiders won’t face Jacksonville this season. They probably don’t want to anyway. That defense is menacing.
At this time, it is hard to separate those two rival teams from each other. Sure, the Titans currently have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jaguars, but they will play presumable for a division crown in Nashville in Week 17 on New Year’s Eve. Who saw that being the final primetime game of the season?
Overall, we’re probably looking at the No. 4 seed and possibly the No. 5 seed coming out of the AFC South. It would be shocking to see either of these teams finish below .500 this season. 10 or 11 wins claims that division. Nine or 10 wins gets the second place team in that division a wild card spot. That’s one spot Oakland would have liked to have. The division title or No. 6 seed it is!