Raiders: Four teams to root for in Week 12 as playoff race heats up

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a ball before scoring on a 97 yard catch and run in the third quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a ball before scoring on a 97 yard catch and run in the third quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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Raiders fans need to cheer on Big Ben on Thanksgiving Day Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Raiders fans need to cheer on Big Ben on Thanksgiving Day Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The playoff race is officially underway, and while eyes will be on the Las Vegas Raiders playing in Atlanta, fans should be rooting for these four teams as well.

The Las Vegas Raiders are in a good spot heading into the final six games of the season, a place they were in last year, but failed to capitalize. The difference in 2020 is that this team is a legitimate playoff contender, has a quarterback playing at an MVP level in Derek Carr, and a defense that appears to be turning the corner.

While it is crucial for the Silver and Black to win their matchup Sunday in Atlanta, here are four other teams Raider Nation needs to be rooting for in Week 12.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The party gets started on Thanksgiving Day, as the Pittsburgh Steelers play host to the Baltimore Ravens. Sitting at 10-0, the Steelers are in prime position to take home the No. 1 seed in the conference, and beating the Ravens will likely lock up the divisional title for them in the AFC North.

Baltimore is sitting at 6-4, one spot behind the Raiders, who currently own the No. 7 spot in the AFC Playoffs as a Wild Card. They are playing terrible football right now, and the Steelers are red hot, and with a loss on Thanksgiving, they fall even further behind the Raiders heading into the Atlanta game.

*Editors Note: This game has been moved to Sunday afternoon

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