The Oakland Raiders enter Week 12 with a ton of potential. A win keeps them within striking distance of the AFC West and keeps them in the hunt for a playoff spot.
The East Coast can be an absolute albatross for teams traveling from the west. In Week 12, the 6-4 Oakland Raiders play the 3-7 New York Jets. And for the Raiders, you can argue a win is needed if they hope to keep pace with division leader Kansas City.
It’s also bigger for another significant reason. Week 13 has Oakland on the road at the Chiefs, who just beat the Los Angeles Chargers in Mexico City and are on a very convenient bye this week. Overlooking a Jets team who is on a two-game win streak of their own is to their own detriment.
It is worth noting the Jets beat a 2-8 New York Giants team and a 1-9 Washington Redskins, hardly a Murder’s Row. But wins are wins in the NFL and Sam Darnold is showing signs that he’s finally getting into a groove.
The Raiders are also settled into a nice groove of their own. They are on a three-game win streak since being on a very long road trip. Wrapping up the fourth win against a team who they are simply better than, could set up a big final month of the season.
Oakland hasn’t been particularly impressive on the road, only winning in Indianapolis. The game in London was technically a “home” game. A win in Gotham helps the Raiders keep pace with the Chiefs, who do not resemble the juggernaut they were in 2018. Simply put, Week 12 is as must-win as they get.
How do the Raiders perform in this situation? Let’s delve into three bold predictions for Sunday’s trip to MetLife Stadium.