Las Vegas Raiders need big-time help during Week 15 Sunday slate
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders are still crawling to get into the playoff picture, and they need some big-time help during the Sunday slate in Week 15.
The Las Vegas Raiders should have been going into the Sunday slate of games knowing a bit more about their playoff fate, as they were supposed to take on a depleted Cleveland Browns team with a chance to get back to .500. Instead, they will sit around and watch the Sunday slate of games, and then prepare to take on the Browns on Monday afternoon.
Some key games they will be keeping their eyes on are the Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos, two games that are crucial in terms of the AFC Playoff race. Tennessee currently is in first place in the AFC South, and holds the No. 2 seed in the AFC, so they should be able to beat the Steelers, sending Pittsburgh’s record below .500.
Currently, Pittsburgh holds the No. 11 spot in the AFC Playoff picture, one spot ahead of the Raiders.
In a game that features an AFC West foe, the Broncos will battle it out against the Bengals, two teams currently ahead of the Raiders in the playoff race. Cincinnati has already beaten the Raiders this season, so it will be tough for Las Vegas to catch them, but a loss by Denver moves them back to .500, and the Raiders have already beaten them this year.
Raiders need a big upset needed on Sunday
One game where a big upset will be needed is the matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Carolina Panthers. The Bills are home, a big favorite, and after seeing the New England Patriots lose to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night, have an opportunity to inch closer to first place in the AFC East
That Saturday night game did not go the way Las Vegas wanted it to, as a loss by the Colts would have moved them to 7-7 on the season, and the Silver and Black play them later on. There is a good chance both Pittsburgh and Denver lose on Sunday, moving them behind the Raiders in terms of the AFC Playoff picture if the Raiders can get the win on Monday afternoon.
If Pittsburgh and Denver lose, coupled with a Las Vegas win, the SIlver and Black go from the No. 12 spot, all the way up to No. 9. Of course, if Carolina knocks off Buffalo, Las Vegas goes to No. 8, one spot out of the playoffs.