Even though it’s only Week 12, it’s never too early to discuss the playoffs. For fans of the Oakland Raiders, the 2015 season has been filled with many pleasant surprises. The offensive growth of quarterback Derek Carr under offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave is one. The rebirth of Charles Woodson could be another.
But for all of the good that has come, one thing still eludes Oakland: Consistent winning.
And if they lose against the Tennessee Titans tomorrow, another thing they will be missing in 2015 is a playoff berth.
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Sure, you could argue the Raiders could go on some magical five-game run even if they lose Sunday in Tennessee and drop to 4-7. They would finish with nine wins and sneak in. But let’s be honest; the Oakland Raiders have no wiggle room for letdown games, and as good as the Titans have looked at times this season with rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, a loss there would be a huge letdown.
If they lose, then it’s obvious: The Oakland Raiders will not make the playoffs because they will not go 5-0 the last 5 weeks.
You could also make the argument that no one in the AFC is exactly running away with the wild card spots. There are a myriad of teams sitting at 5-5 (New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans), and only one 6-4 team (Pittsburgh Steelers). But other than the Jets, who Oakland beat earlier in the year, the Raiders would have to “jump” some of these teams in the win-loss column and may still be out due to tie-breakers.
Nov 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) carries the ball as Detroit Lions cornerback Quandre Diggs (28) defends at Ford Field. The Lions won 18-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
And on top of that, one of those teams, the Kansas City Chiefs, have been playing at a high level as of late, and the Raiders still need to play them twice. The odds of Oakland going 2-0 against them is fairly low, meaning at least eight losses if they fall tomorrow at Nashville. I haven’t even mentioned the fact that they have to play the Packers and head to Denver to play the Broncos.
Not an easy schedule down the stretch.
That’s why a win against the Titans is so crucial, and should be a must win in the minds of the Raiders. At 5-6, they might be able to afford another in division loss and still make it into the playoffs. And they may get some help in terms of the schedule. After all, Green Bay doesn’t exactly look like a powerhouse lately, and Denver is still in the feeling-out process with quarterback Brock Osweiler.
First things first, however. They must break their two game road losing streak and beat a Tennessee team that has shown it can be had on defense, and who has struggled to move the ball at times on offense. The Titans give up an average of 23.3 points a game; good for 16th in the league, and their offense is currently ranked 30th in the NFL.
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Wide receiver Amari Cooper needs to find the magic that he had earlier in the season, as does Carr. The defense needs to pressure Mariota into bad decisions. The Raiders can’t turn the ball over or make any boneheaded mistakes. They can’t come back to Oakland at 4-7.
If they lose, then it’s obvious: The Oakland Raiders will not make the playoffs…again.