The Las Vegas Raiders have four games remaining in their 2020 NFL schedule, and they may have to win out to make the playoffs.
Thanks to a Miracle at Metlife, the Las Vegas Raiders left the State of New Jersey with a win on Sunday, though it looked bleak with under ten seconds left. One play after Derek Carr missed a wide-open Nelson Agholor deep, he hung tough on an all-out blitz, finding rookie Henry Ruggs down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown.
It was a play that could have major repercussions for this team moving forward, as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive. With the win, the Raiders matched their win total from a year ago with four games left to play, but they did not get any help in terms of the standings from other AFC teams.
The Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and Cleveland Browns, all teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race, won, so as it stands, the Raiders are the No. 8 team in a seven-team playoff. They control their own destiny, however, as they still have games against the Dolphins and Colts on the horizon, to go along with two divisional games.
After the loss to the Falcons, and barely beating the Jets, the Raiders are a team trending in the wrong direction, and that does not bode well with some tough games on the horizon. In fact, the Silver and Black may have to win out if they want to clinch a playoff spot.
Las Vegas Raiders may have to win out to clinch playoff spot
How did we get here?
The Raiders went into their game against the Kansas City Chiefs flying high, the winners of four straight games, and already had a win against the Chiefs on their record. In an instant classic inside their new building, the Raiders seemed to have the game in hand before Patrick Mahomes did what Patrick Mahomes does, and led the Chiefs to a game-winning drive.
Still, the Raiders were fine and would head to Atlanta to take on a 3-7 Falcons team with a record of 6-4. This was the same scenario as last season, when they had the same record and went East to take on the 3-7 New York Jets, and unfortunately for the Silver and Black, it would be the same kind of embarrassing loss.
That made the game against the Jets a must-win, and with under ten seconds left, it looked like the season was over. Well, Carr had some magic left in his right arm, the Raiders won their seventh game, and moving forward, they will have to take care of business each week if they want to reach the playoffs for only the second time since the 2002 NFL season.
Las Vegas Raiders may have to win out to clinch playoff spot
Miami and Indianapolis
So here they are, sitting at 7-5 with a huge matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on deck in Week 14. The Colts are currently one spot ahead of the Raiders in the Wild Card standings, and the last two times Carr had the Colts at home, he broke his ankle on Christmas Eve to end the Raiders chances at a deep run in the playoffs in 2016, and then were blown out in 2018.
He got some revenge last season, as the Raiders beat the Colts on the road, but this time, he and his teammates’ playoff lives may be on the line. It is getting very late in the season, and luckily for the Raiders, they have matchups with not only the Colts left but also the Miami Dolphins, who currently hold the No. 6 spot in the AFC Playoffs.
Also, Las Vegas is home for the next three weeks, games against the Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, and Dolphins, three very winnable games. The Raiders could be without some key guys once again this weekend, as Josh Jacobs and Johnathan Abram are still questionable to play, so that is something to keep an eye on this week.
Las Vegas needs to take each week as it comes, try to keep guys off the COVID list and continue to stack wins. Ten wins could be the floor in terms of making the playoffs, and if the Raiders lose to either the Colts or the Dolphins, they could lose ground in terms of the tiebreaker even if they finish with the same record.
That means the Silver and Black may have to win out to clinch a playoff spot in a very deep AFC.