If the playoffs were to begin today, the Oakland Raiders (7-6) would be on the outside looking in. After squandering a few chances to take a grip of the AFC West, the Silver & Black now will have to chase the Denver Broncos (8-5).
The surest way for Oakland to get would be to win their division. How can that happen? The Raiders need to win their last three games and hope for Denver to lose two of their final three; or fall to the Kansas City Chiefs. Hue Jackson’s bunch could also earn a wild-card berth, but many more things need to happen and a lot more help will be needed, since they will have to leapfrog the New York Jets and hope that others falter.
Here are a few reasons why they will or won’t make the playoffs:
Oakland will make the playoffs because Denver will falter.
Divine intervention may be part of the Broncos run to the top, but eventually you have to figure that teams will catch-up to Tim Tebow and the Denver offense.
They play the New England Patriots this week, then travel to Buffalo for a key road game on Christmas Eve. That could be the time where Oakland can sneak back to the top of the standings. After Todd Haley’s departure, Kansas City may pack it in on the final weekend at Denver. So with all the pressure now squarely on their shoulders and two tough weeks ahead, can the Broncos secure a playoff spot?
“Our mind-set now is to win the division,” said Denver defensive end Elvis Dumervil.
Oakland will not make the playoffs because of penalties, bad defense and squandered chances.
The Raiders lead the league with 130-penalties. That lack of discipline always comes back to haunt teams, especially in games where you can’t give opponents second chances. Oakland just can’t get out of their own way and they’ve had several contests that have been penalty-ridden.
The defense is allowing 160.2 rushing yards per game over the last four weeks. Down the stretch, teams will try to take advantage of that, and with the high-powered Detroit offense coming into town, and the Chargers tallying 289-yards on the ground the last two weeks, Chuck Bresnahan’s unit will have quite the battle ahead of them.
Oakland already had their chance to distance themselves from the rest. One defensive stop in the second half at Buffalo during week-two, and they could’ve been 3-0 to start the season. A three-game home stretch with a bye in the mix, versus the Browns, Broncos and Chiefs yielded just one-win. A lifeless effort in Miami, paired with a trouncing at Green Bay gave away their lead.
Oakland will make the playoffs because of their experience last season.
The Raiders went 6-0 against their rivals, but there was no solace in those achievements after losing key games down the stretch versus Miami, Jacksonville and Indianapolis, while the Chiefs put away the division before the final weekend.
“It’s just tough because all through training camp, we knew that we had a team that could win the (AFC) West, make the playoffs and compete,” Michael Huff stated last season. “I guess we’re not going to get the chance.”
“We can’t go undefeated in our division and let games like Arizona slip away. We got to have those,” said Tommy Kelly after their loss to the Colts in 2010.
This year, they suffered through tough losses and have fought back to be a streaky club. They’ll need a little help, but if those lessons learned last season served their purpose, Oakland’s veterans will remind the club what’s at stake and finish the season strong.
Oakland will make the playoffs because of their schedule.
Their last loss in Kansas City was in 2006. Oakland has not lost three-games in a row since the 2009 season and they dominated San Diego the first time around this year.
If they can’t come home and defend their field against the Lions, it will be a tough road and they’ll surely not be deserving of a post-season spot. So a big effort this weekend is expected, and you couldn’t have picked two better teams for them to try to beat than the two bottom clubs in the AFC West.
Oakland will make the playoffs because they will get healthy on offense.

Now they are conflicting reports regarding Darren McFadden’s foot injury, and whether he’ll be back at all this season. But Hue Jackson refuted that yesterday stating: “And it’s not a season-ender. I mean, that’s what we said – it’s a sprained foot, Lisfranc [injury], whatever you want to call it. Basically the same thing. I think Darren will be back before the season’s over. And when we get him back, we’ll get him back.”
Oakland has skirted around the McFadden issue and the ‘he’s coming along’ company line is drawing the ire of the fans. If he does come back, that can surely jolt an offense in need of some big-plays out of the backfield and that has been grounded the last three-weeks, averaging 78.6 per game after being atop the league the first half of the campaign. Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford will also get back into the mix and diversify their passing attack and special teams.
Carson Palmer has yet to play a game with McFadden or a healthy offensive roster.
Oakland will not make the playoffs because of their injuries.
Maybe McFadden will never be 100% the rest of the year. And if he’s not, there’s no guarantee he’ll even perform anywhere near like he has when he’s been healthy the last two years.
Michael Bush could be hitting a wall, as he has surpassed his career marks in touches and the passing game may never be the same with Ford and Moore consistently out of the line-up and Palmer never having a full complement since he has taken over the starting spot.
Oakland will not make the playoffs because of their lack of leadership.
Richard Seymour was acquired for moments like these; a team ready to turn the corner, primed to take that extra step… needing a leader with past experience to show them the way.
Whether limited by injuries or not, Seymour has paled as a leader, getting flagged often in keys games in vital spots or not showing up at all, as evidenced by his shut-out in the stat-box versus Green Bay.
If he can’t lead by example on the field, who will? Especially on a defense that has been allowing far too many yards and points.
On offense, will Jackson be the spark? Or will one of his players seize the moment?
Oakland will not make the playoffs because of Tim Tebow and the Broncos.
Yeah, it may just be some greater power. Marion Barber’s blunders have to be explained somehow. Denver has a knack of wining, and that’s all that matters this late in the year. And at this point, it’s hard to bet against a winner.
Oakland will make the playoffs because of their O-Line & Special Teams.

For most of the season, the Silver & Black’s offensive line, especially the left side, has been the backbone of the offense. Jared Veldheer and rookie Stefen Wisniewski can get back to being a force and aide an attack that will severely need a powerful force up front. Whoever is in the backfield should benefit from the line getting back into top form.
Same with the passing attack, as Carson Palmer has shown he can be dangerous when given time and some healthy weapons.
Having the best kicking tandem in the NFL will help. But if Ford, Moore and coach John Fassel can be difference makers and game changers, this could be a an advantage that could push Oakland towards January football.
Oakland will not make the playoffs because they have peaked already.
You can make the case that their best performance of the season was against the Jets in week-three, and their grittiest was versus the Texans on the weekend of Al Davis’ passing. A three-game winning streak that was halted in Miami may have been their high point and the start of anything that could go bad… which at this point, has.
They could still snag wins in all of their remaining games and still not make the playoffs.
TWITTER FAN REACTION – Why will the Raiders make/miss the playoffs?
“after Patriots beat Broncos, their confidence is shaken and lose two in a row.” – MandoVod
“no leadership at all!!!! no attitude, mojo, swagger whatever you want to call it!!!!” – cesarz77
“Offense inability to sustain long drives screws the defense. Which will screw their chances of making the playoffs.” – Gtwitten
“lack of discipline, lack of consistency, and not taking care of the ball will result in no playoffs.” – corona_mike
“the lack of discipline and bad coaching on the D side will be the reason why they don’t make the playoffs this year SMH” – Raiderfan_559
“Raiders offense built for speed, get their speed back they r in playoffs, if not they won’t win another game this year” – MattDanforth
“Reason the raiders will make the playoffs because mcfadden will be rested when he plays the teams on a whole other level” – robbiedorris