Looking at the schedule....
4 division games left, 4 non division games left.
Division games: vs Den, @KC, @SD & @Den
Non division games: vs Hou (in Mexico), vs Car, vs Buf & vs Indy.
Raiders are only traveling out of California 3 more times: Kansas City, Denver & Mexico City.
The Thursday night game @ KC after the home game versus Buffalo will be tough to win. I remember Joe Fortenbauh on the morning show said that no (or close to none) teams wins when they have to travel 1500+ miles for TNF after a Sunday game. That's why there's usually only divisional matches on TNF, unfortunately for us KC plays in the West
. It is sports so we can still win but that's as close to a schedule loss and it gets in the NFL. Reminds of me a NBA back to back or some ****.
We all want to win the division, but we need to keep the wildcard battle in the back of our minds. Wins against Tennesee & Baltimore were huge. They won't make the playoffs over us now. The Houston game is big but I think they'll win the division so the wild card impact might not be huge, but that should still be considered as a must win for the conference record, especially with Watt out.
The most important non division game left would prolly be Buffalo (even tho I think they'll only win ~9 games). Win against Buffalo & we should have wild card tie breakers against all AFC teams. I don't think Cincy is gunna make the wild card especially after that tie.
11 games gets us into the playoffs but 10 games and a whole bunch of tiebreakers might get it done as well.
The only good teams in the AFC are the Patriots, The AFC West & Pittsburgh. All we need to do is get into the playoffs and we have a shot against anybody. The 4-0 road record gives you confidence if we were to get a wildcard slot too.
Scott Bair
