How the Oakland Raiders can make the playoffs in Week 17

The Oakland Raiders head into the last week of the season with a 7-8 record, but surprisingly, they are not out of the playoff hunt.

The Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers by a score of 24-17 this week, giving the team their first win in weeks. Outside of this game, everything the Raiders needed to happen today, happened. Derek Carr led an offense missing Josh Jacobs, Trent Brown, and Richie Incognito, but relied on Hunter Renfrow, who was making his return from a rib injury.

The Indianapolis Colts dominated the Panthers, the New York Jets pulled off the upset over the Steelers, and the New Orleans Saints held on to defeat the Titans. Heading into the final week of the season, the final AFC wildcard spot is between the Titans, Steelers, and Raiders.

It is going to take a lot for the Raiders to make the playoffs, but nothing is impossible as this week proved. In Week 17, the Oakland Raiders will play the Denver Broncos in a Week 1 rematch. The Raiders won the first game, but both teams are completely different at this point in the season.

Along with a Raiders victory, the Titans and Steelers both need to lose, as well as the Colts getting a win. The three games that the Raiders will need to pay attention to all occur at 1 pm Eastern time on Sunday, so when the Raiders take the field against the Broncos at 4:25 next week, we will know how important the game is.

All three games that the Raiders need to go a certain way are not out of reality, as the Titans will face off against the Houston Texans, a team that defeated them just a week ago. The Steelers will play the Baltimore Ravens, and although the Ravens will likely bench the majority of their starters, they still will have a great chance to win. The Indianapolis Colts play the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that they dominated 33-13 earlier in the season.

So, if the Colts defeat the Jaguars, the Ravens defeat the Steelers, and the Texans defeat the Titans, the Raiders will have their fate in their own hands against their division rival, the Denver Broncos. As poor as the Raiders have played over the last month, they showed a bit of life against the Chargers, and all can be forgiven with a playoff berth.