The Raiders may be sitting at 4-5, but their season isn’t dead yet.
Las Vegas has been treated like an afterthought in the AFC playoff race, and for good reason: the climb is steep. Still, there’s a path, and it starts with the fact that the top six spots in the conference look largely spoken for. The Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers, Chiefs, and Bengals are the teams occupying those positions right now, leaving one last wildcard berth up for grabs.
That final opening belongs to the Patriots at 5-4, with the Browns right behind them at 5-4 as well. The Raiders are only a game back.
And while Las Vegas is staring at a brutal stretch, the teams ahead of them have their own issues. New England still has five games left against teams above .500.
Cleveland, meanwhile, comes with major uncertainty at quarterback with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. The Raiders also get the Browns in a few weeks, which gives them a direct shot at one of the teams sitting above them.
Houston is another team worth watching, even at 3-5. The Texans have a manageable schedule, and that keeps them in the mix.
So at the moment, it’s not just one team Las Vegas has to catch - it’s a cluster of vulnerable teams fighting for the same spot. That’s what keeps the Raiders’ hopes from disappearing entirely.
The next two games could make or break everything. Seattle and Denver are up next, and both are difficult in their own way.
A rough two-week stretch would leave Las Vegas in a tough spot fast. But there’s still a route to splitting those games, especially with Seattle possibly dealing with a quarterback issue on Sunday and Denver being the kind of team that tends to let opponents stick around.
After that comes a stretch that looks more manageable: the Browns, Chargers, Broncos, Titans, Cardinals, and Chiefs. Las Vegas should have a real chance in several of those matchups, including games against Los Angeles, Tennessee, and Arizona. Cleveland remains a tricky one because of its quarterback situation, but the Raiders will at least get that opportunity head-on.
Then there’s Week 18 against Kansas City. It’s a road game, and the Chiefs are the wild card in every sense here.
If the playoff picture allows it, Kansas City could be resting starters by then. If that happens and the Raiders are still in the hunt, that game could turn into a “free win” for the Silver and Black.
For now, the math is simple: the Raiders need to survive the next three weeks before the bye. If they can go 2-1 in that stretch, they’ll still be in legitimate wildcard contention, provided the Texans, Browns, and Patriots don’t start pulling away.
In Other News...
Raiders Rookies Are Suddenly Creating A Real Roster Debate
The Raiders rookie class has started to shape the conversation around the back end of the roster, and not just because of the usual growing pains. In the wake of a loss to the 49ers and a win over the Jets, the first-year group has produced a mix of encouraging flashes and uneven production, with some young players drawing strong marks for how they handled their opportunities while others struggled to make the same kind of case.
Treydan Stukes and Jermod McCoy stood out on the positive side of the ledger, giving Las Vegas something to think about as it sorts out who deserves more run down the stretch. On the other end, Mike Washington Jr. and Zeke Masses did not help their standing, and with a few rookies either inactive or on injured reserve, the Raiders are left weighing not just who has played well, but who is actually forcing the issue when the team starts making tougher decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Fernando Mendoza Enters A New Raiders Role With Huge Expectations
Fernando Mendoza has stepped into a new role for the Raiders with the kind of attention that comes with being handed the offense in-season. After Kirk Cousins was moved out of the picture, Mendoza took over as Las Vegas starting quarterback and has already gone through his first full practice in the job, a key early test as he settles into the routine that now comes with leading the huddle.
Mendoza has also made clear he appreciated the time he spent alongside Cousins, crediting the veteran for his support during their overlap. Now the focus shifts quickly to game week and a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, where the Raiders will get their first real look at how Mendoza handles the pressure and pace of being the guy. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Put Fernando Mendoza In A Spot That Will Test Everything
The Raiders are handing Fernando Mendoza his first NFL start in a spot that arrives with immediate pressure attached. After sending Kirk Cousins to Minnesota ahead of the trade deadline, Las Vegas is turning to the rookie and asking him to step into the job without changing the identity of the offense, even as the challenge gets significantly steeper.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said the Raiders will stick with their offensive approach with Mendoza under center, which says plenty about how they want to handle the transition. It also sets up a revealing first test for the rookie, because the team is not easing him in with a scaled-back plan, and the matchup waiting for him should tell a lot about how ready he is for the speed and demands of the league. [Read more 🡒]