How can the Las Vegas Raiders make the playoffs this season?
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders needed to win out and get help across the last four weeks of the season, and they kept their slim playoff hopes alive on Sunday.
Early on in their Week 15 matchup against the New England Patriots, it looked like the Las Vegas Raiders would cruise to an easy victory at home. They had gotten out to a 17-3 halftime lead, and all three facets of their team, offense, defense, and special teams, had dominated the first 30 minutes.
However, as has been the case all season long, the Raiders struggled after the break, and before you knew it, they were down a touchdown with a little over two minutes left in the game. While it took a miracle, one that included a 30-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Keelan Cole that could have been ruled incomplete, Las Vegas was able to win the game 30-24.
In a season that has seen them losing in disappointing fashion so many times, Las Vegas finally had one go their way, as Chandler Jones picked up a fumbled lateral and scampered 48 yards for the touchdown with no time left on the clock. It was the kind of win that can propel a team to make a serious run, but is it too little too late?
Raiders need a lot of help to make the playoffs
According to the New York Times playoff simulator, Las Vegas would have a 60 percent chance to make the playoffs if they win out. However, they will also need some big-time help from the likes of Los Angeles (A), Miami, and the New York Jets if they hope to leapfrog them and finish with the No. 7 seed in the AFC.
In recent weeks, the Chargers have been able to steady their playoff hopes with wins against Miami and Tennesee, and have an easy sledding ahead of them, playing the likes of Indianapolis, Los Angeles Rams, and Denver Broncos down the stretch.
The win on Sunday against New England kept the slim playoff hopes alive, and at least make the Christmas Eve matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers that much more meaningful. This is the NFL, and you never know what can happen, so buckle up for what should be an exciting weekend of football in Week 16.