Oakland Raiders won bye week, now must win on the field
The Oakland Raiders ‘won’ their bye week due in large part to the Chiefs’ second straight loss. Now, it’s even more crucial to win back on the field.
While the Oakland Raiders were enjoying some much-deserved rest and relaxation on their bye week, the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs dropped their second straight game and, suddenly, Patrick Mahomes seems mortal along with the rest of his offense. Just like that, the Raiders at 3-2 are now resting a half-game back from the first-place Chiefs (4-2).
Meanwhile, the once strong Los Angeles Chargers are spinning their wheels at 2-4. And though the Denver Broncos are winners of two-straight games, their 0-4 start gives them a mile-high hill to climb to compete in the division. So in a way, the Raiders “won” their bye week.
With the disappointment that is the AFC North, the obligatory lack of competition for the New England Patriots (with the exception of the Buffalo Bills for now) in the AFC East and the relatively even battle for supremacy that is the AFC South, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the Raiders can snag a playoff spot in the wide-open AFC.
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After winning the bye week, they now have to win on the field. Jon Gruden may have given his Raiders the week off following his team’s victory in London against the Chicago Bears but that doesn’t mean he gave himself time off.
Gruden is notorious for preparing to the point of madness with early mornings and late nights and will have two weeks to prepare for the Raiders’ Week 7 trip to Lambeau Field for a date with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. This is a game the Raiders not only have to win but also can win.
While the Packers look strong sitting at 5-1, the Philadelphia Eagles demonstrated a formula to beat them in Lambeau by running the ball and controlling the clock, thus keeping Rodgers off the field and applying pressure. Luckily, this is just what the Raiders have been doing best, particularly the former.
If the Raiders can get young running back Josh Jacobs going and have him continue to run the way he has been so far in his rookie year, then an upset victory is absolutely not out of the question.
This tough but winnable game is a must-win because, after Week 7, the Raiders travel to the Lone Star State to play a red hot Houston Texans team starting to figure it out. Their road trip finally ends with a showdown with a stronger than expected Detroit Lions team.
From there the Raiders schedule features nothing but very winnable AFC games, save for their road trip to Arrowhead to play the Chiefs.
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The Raiders will need all the momentum they can get over this stretch, though, which starts with Lambeau. The playoffs are a real possibility in Oakland. The mantras of Al Davis have never been more apt as Gruden’s team needs to play with “Pride and Poise” and, facing a crucial road trip, “Just win, baby.” It’s not a small task but it’s one these Raiders are capable of succeeding in doing.