Do the Raiders have a real shot at making the NFL playoffs? A look at upcoming schedule

Anthony Galaviz
Bart Young/AP

The Las Vegas Raiders are “still in the hunt” for a playoff spot — albeit a long-shot bid with just four weeks remaining in the 2022 NFL season.

The Raiders had plenty of chances earlier this season to make it a much easier pursuit, but four blown leads led to defeats that have helped put the Raiders at 5-8 after a 17-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Next up is a game against the Patriots on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. New England — at 7-6 after beating the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night — is one of the teams the Raiders need to catch and pass.

Las Vegas needs plenty of help to get back to the playoffs for a second straight season.

According to FiveThirtyEight’s NFL Predictions tool, the Raiders had a 4% chance of making the playoffs entering the new week. If the Raiders win their next two games, their chance increases to 14%.

Last season, the Raiders defeated the Chargers in the regular-season finale to wrap up the seventh seed. Only seven teams in both the AFC and NFC qualify for the playoffs.

This much is certain: The Raiders need to do their part by winning out against the Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.

It is a tall order, but anything can happen, especially in the final two weeks when the 49ers and Chiefs could have little to play for in determining their playoff seeding.

The Bee is only considering the sixth and seventh spots as possibilities because the Cincinnati Bengals — currently the fifth seed — have a 9-4 record. There is no way the Bengals or the Baltimore Ravens, battling for the AFC North title, will lose out.

Here’s how the AFC wild card standings look ahead of the Week 15 schedule:

6. Miami Dolphins (8-5): Dec. 17 at Buffalo; Dec. 25 vs. Green Bay; Jan. 1 at New England; Jan. 8 vs. New York Jets

7. New England Patriots (7-6): Dec. 18 at Las Vegas; Dec. 24 vs. Cincinnati; Jan. 1 vs. Miami; Jan. 8 at Buffalo

8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6): Dec. 18 vs. Tennessee; Dec. 26 at Indianapolis; Jan. 1 vs. Los Angeles Rams; Jan. 8 at Denver

9. New York Jets (7-6): Dec. 18 vs. Detroit; Dec. 22 vs. Jacksonville; Jan. 1 at Seattle; Jan. 8 at Miami

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8): Dec. 18 vs. Dallas; Dec. 22 at New York Jets; Jan. 1 at Houston; Jan. 8 vs. Tennessee

11. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8): Dec. 18 vs. New England; Dec. 24 at Pittsburgh; Jan. 1 vs. San Francisco; Jan. 8 vs. Kansas City

12. Cleveland Browns (5-8): Dec. 17 vs. Baltimore; Dec. 24 vs. New Orleans; Jan. 1 at Washington; Jan. 8 at Pittsburgh

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8): Dec. 18 at Carolina; Dec. 24 vs. Las Vegas; Jan. 1 at Baltimore; Jan. 8 vs. Cleveland

Advertisement