AFC Playoff Picture: How the Oakland Raiders Can Win AFC West in Week 17

The Oakland Raiders are one win, with an asterisk, away from an AFC West title and a playoff berth. However, it's not entirely under their control as to whether that happens.

Both they and the Denver Broncos are 8-7 through Week 16, with the Broncos holding the tiebreaker at this time. However, the possibility is great that the Raiders and not the Broncos will be representing their division in the postseason come next Sunday.

In Week 17, the Raiders host the San Diego Chargers, an up-and-down team eliminated from playoff contention when they were handily defeated by the Detroit Lions in Week 16. The Raiders beat the Chargers in their first meeting in Week 10, and now with so much more on the line, they should be putting forth their best effort on Sunday.

At the same time, the Denver Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have found themselves in a bit of an upswing now that they've installed Kyle Orton under center and canned head coach Todd Haley, replacing him with defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.

The Chiefs are in a position to play spoiler for a Broncos squad that has looked shaky in recent weeks, with quarterback Tim Tebow being forced to throw the ball more than he is comfortable.

If anything, the Chiefs have proven they've got what it takes to pressure even the most elite of quarterbacks. Though Tebow presents a different sort of challenge, should the Chiefs succeed, the AFC West is the Raiders' for the taking.

If both the Raiders and Broncos lose, the Broncos still win the division thanks to their possession of that aforementioned tiebreaker. For the Raiders to win the division, they need Denver to lose, period.

Unlike Denver, however, there are a number of ways the Raiders can make the playoffs as a Wild Card team, should they fall short in their efforts to win their division. If the Raiders win, the Cincinnati Bengals lose to the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans defeat the Tennessee Titans, they make it in.

They can also earn a playoff berth with a win, a Cincinnati loss and a New York Jets victory over the Miami Dolphins. However, a win and a Denver loss is the sole way the Raiders can take the field in the postseason as undisputed AFC West division champions.