Raiders X-Factors against the Bengals in the Wild Card round

Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) gestures as he runs off the field after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) gestures as he runs off the field after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Raiders are traveling to Cincinnati this weekend for their first playoff appearance since 2016, and here are some X-factors.

The one positive about the 32-13 thumping the Cincinnati Bengals gave the Raiders in Week 11 was that it ended up being the end of a three-game losing stretch.

Looking for more other positives inside of this horrific performance would be far and few — however, the Silver and Black are a rejuvenated bunch at the moment, looking the part of a playoff-caliber team during a four-game winning streak as they look to exact revenge on the Bengals.

Several factors will need to go in favor of Las Vegas for the franchise to march to its first postseason victory in two decades, but it is not impossible, even if the Bengals are a very formidable foe, and pose a huge threat to this uncanny magical run the Raiders are currently on.

Let’s take a look into a few X-Factors that will be key for a Raider victory.