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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) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 12: Philip Rivers No. 17 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts to a play in the first half of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 12, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 12: Philip Rivers No. 17 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts to a play in the first half of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 12, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) /

3. The Raiders are the AFC West’s best shot at getting a wild card team in.

The biggest revelation in the AFC West from Week 10 is that the two teams that played on Sunday are no longer in the AFC playoff picture. Losing on the road in overtime to the Jacksonville Jaguars probably knocks the Los Angeles Chargers out of it. They are 3-6.

Then there is whatever is going on in the Mile High City with the Denver Broncos. After beating the Raiders at home by six points in Week 4, the Broncos have cratered and are losers of five straight games. It is almost Josh McDaniels era bad in Denver right now. Worst of all, the Broncos defense has become a wet paper bag. They need to rebuild fast.

So what does this mean for the two teams on bye in Week 10 in Oakland and Kansas City? It means one thing for each team. For Kansas City, Denver and Los Angeles’ Week 10 ineptitude means the Chiefs are making the playoffs barring an unforeseen collapse. With the Raiders, they have emerged as the division’s second-best team.

Does that mean Oakland can still make the AFC playoffs? Most definitely, but it won’t be easy. It won’t matter if the Raiders don’t get it done versus Denver and Los Angeles. The New York Giants are awful, so that’s probably another win. Who knows if the Dallas Cowboys are afloat before Ezekiel Elliott comes back? There are wins to be had on the Raiders’ schedule, but even then, they’ll still need to steal one.

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