NFL Playoff Picture: Why Oakland Raiders Are as Good as Done

To reach the postseason, the 8-7 Oakland Raiders will need some help.

The Raiders must first beat or tie the San Diego Chargers in Week 17 to have any chance of advancing to the postseason. That won't be an easy task, as San Diego has won three of their last four games, and except for getting smoked by the Detroit Lions 38-10 in Week 16, the Chargers have been playing as well as anyone over the past month.

The Raiders have the chance to get in as both a wild card or the AFC West champion. They can win the West two ways. If they beat the Chargers and the Denver Broncos either lose to or tie the Kansas City Chiefs. Or if Oakland ties the Chargers, a loss by the Broncos will give the AFC West to the Raiders.

If Denver manages to beat the Chiefs, then Oakland's only hope would be for a wild card spot. For that to happen, Oakland would need to beat the Chargers and then one of two scenarios would have to unfold. In both situations the Cincinnati Bengals would have to lose to the Baltimore Ravens. Then either the Tennessee Titans would have to suffer a loss or a tie, or the New York Jets would have to win. 

Personally I don't think the Raiders will reach the postseason this year. I get the feeling the Chargers will be smarting from their loss to the Lions, which will make that game a whole lot more difficult. Philip Rivers and company will want to end the season on a high note, especially since a wave of offseason change is likely headed San Diego's direction.

Meanwhile, I would slightly favor the Broncos over the Chiefs because Denver will have home field advantage. Something tells me the Tim Tebow Experience will get back on track after suffering two consecutive losses. 

The Raiders are in a position where they need help from other teams to reach the playoffs. That's never a positive sign and if they had just shown up against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13, or finished against the Lions in Week 15, they wouldn't be in this position.