5 reasons the Oakland Raiders will beat the New York Giants
By John Buhler
![OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Cordarelle Patterson No. 84 of the Oakland Raiders is being congratulated by teammate Johnny Holton after a 54-yard gain during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 21-14. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images) OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Cordarelle Patterson No. 84 of the Oakland Raiders is being congratulated by teammate Johnny Holton after a 54-yard gain during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 21-14. (Photo by Stephen Lam/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-2F2017-2F11-2F879858420-denver-broncos-v-oakland-raiders-jpg-850x560-39a716c18fa377d6c81497012c02226a425b0010cf2a4e00ed98e941b4115d26.jpg)
Oakland has a shot at being in first place with a win on Sunday over New York.
Though it is entirely out of their control, the Raiders could be in first place in the AFC West by the end of the day Sunday. Here’s how that could happen. First off, Oakland needs to beat New York, plain and simple. Next, the Chiefs need to lose to the New York Jets on the road. That’s totally possible because Kansas City has lost five of six games.
Then, the Raiders will need Christmas to come early for Ohioans. The Los Angeles Chargers will have to blow a game at home to the winless Cleveland Browns at home. This is a game where the Chargers are laying almost two touchdowns to the Browns. Then again, Cleveland did beat the Chargers last season on Christmas Eve. It would be so Chargers to lose at home to the Browns.
With those three AFC West games going that way, Oakland and Kansas City would be 6-6, while Los Angeles will be 5-7. Since Oakland beat Kansas City back in Week 7, the Raiders would be in first place in the AFC West.
It might be easier for the Raiders to win the AFC West than getting into the AFC playoffs as a wild card team this year. We know that the AFC South is getting a wild card team in and two teams that have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Oakland in the Ravens and the Buffalo Bills could get that No. 6. Being in first place entering Week 14 would be really great for the Raiders heading into the final quarter of the season.