Raiders Clinch Playoff Berth: Latest Comments and Reaction

For the first time since 2002, the Oakland Raiders are heading to the postseason. Their 19-16 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday clinched at least a wild-card berth.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted what made this such a special moment: 

Losses by the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos in Week 14 helped Oakland move back into sole possession of first place in the AFC West with two weeks remaining.

The team celebrated the moment on its official Twitter account:

Bleacher Report and the NFL account both joined in for the celebration:

The Raiders have not made the postseason since their Super Bowl XXXVII loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What's followed has been more than a decade of futility, featuring eight head coaches and zero playoff appearances.

As ESPN Stats & Info noted, it was the third-longest active streak in the NFL without a playoff appearance.

Oakland's eighth hire, Jack Del Rio, appears to have been the charm. He led the Raiders to a four-win improvement in 2015 and followed that up with a surprising ascent to possible home-field advantage this season.

The Raiders raced out to a 10-2 start on the back of a promising young core of players. Quarterback Derek Carr has put himself firmly in the MVP conversation, Amari Cooper has had a breakout second season, and Michael Crabtree has found a home after years of up-and-down play in San Francisco.

With running back Latavius Murray on pace to rank among the NFL leaders in touchdown rushes, and perhaps the AFC's best offensive line, there arguably isn't a more well-rounded unit in football.

"I tell them before the game: You win, we win," Carr said of the line, per Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. "They love that. They want to put it on them. … When your offensive line can do certain things, protect the quarterback, create running lanes, create blocks downfield for receivers, that inspires everybody. … It fuels our team."

Aaron Nagler of PackersNews.com provided high praise for the work done by general manager Reggie McKenzie:

Their defense is a work in progress, but there's not been a single complaint among the Raiders fandom. After years of disappointment, poor management and false starts, the Raiders are a relevant outside title contender. Division rivals Kansas City and Denver are still trying to carve their way ahead in the AFC West, and the New England Patriots loom large as a threat from the AFC East.

But if this is the Raiders' last season in Oakland—and that's looking like a possibility, per Albert Breer of The MMQB—at least they're going out in style.