NFL Prediction 2019: Oakland Raiders Will Make Playoffs Over Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts

The Oakland Raiders picked up a significant win in Week 10, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers on “Thursday Night Football.” Oakland virtually knocked their division rivals out of the AFC West race while boosting their own playoff chances.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the overwhelming favorites to win the AFC West with a one-game lead over the Raiders. Oakland is a half-game out of the conference’s second wild-card spot, but they are the best bet to finish the 2019 NFL season with the No.6 seed.

The Buffalo Bills are the No.5 seed before their Week 10 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Buffalo is a game ahead of the No.6 seed Indianapolis Colts, who host the Miami Dolphins Sunday afternoon.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be tied with Oakland if they beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars are both fighting to stay alive at a game under .500.

None of those contenders are set up to make the playoffs like the Raiders are with seven games left on their schedule.

Just take a look at Oakland’s remaining opponents. The Chiefs, whom the Raiders will visit in Week 13, are the only team on Oakland’s schedule that has a winning record.

Oakland should be favored in five of their final seven games. It will definitely be the case when they host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 and visit the New York Jets in Week 12. Cincinnati and New York have a 1-15 combined record ahead of their Week 10 games.

Tennessee and Jacksonville are set to visit Oakland in Week 14 and Week 15. The Raiders will visit the Chargers in Week 16. Oakland finishes the season on the road against the Denver Broncos. The Raiders own a convincing win over the Broncos, who sit in last place in the AFC West and are starting a quarterback that has played one career NFL game.

There’s a good chance the Raiders will win at least five of those games. If Oakland goes 10-6, they are likely going to the playoffs.

With consecutive wins against the Chargers and Detroit Lions, the Raiders have improved their record to 4-0 against teams that are below .500. Oakland is 3-1 at home. The Raiders’ schedule is set up perfectly for them to go 9-7 at worst.

Indianapolis, Oakland’s chief competition for the final wild-card spot, doesn’t have the same favorable schedule. The Colts still have to visit the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints. A home game against the Carolina Panthers will be tough. Indianapolis will go on the road against the Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Most importantly, the Raiders own the tiebreaker over the Colts because they won in Indianapolis in Week 4. Nine wins probably won’t get the Colts into the playoffs.

Pittsburgh beat Indianapolis in Week 9. The Steelers have a real chance to sneak into the postseason. Their schedule is also weak with upcoming matchups against the Bengals, Jets and Browns.

Games with the Baltimore Ravens and Bills allow Pittsburgh to control part of their postseason destiny. They are also difficult matchups that could ultimately keep the Steelers from finishing the season with a winning record.

Los Angeles is favored at Heinz Field in Week 10.

Making a run to the playoffs with Mason Rudolph at quarterback won’t be easy. Derek Carr led the Raiders to the postseason a few years ago, and he’s playing the best football of his career since garnering some MVP buzz in 2016.

Carr has a career-high 104.4 passer rating. He’s thrown 10 touchdown passes and one interception in his last six games.

Carr and the Raiders entered Week 10 with one of the NFL’s best offenses. Oakland ranked third in yards per play before beating the Chargers. The Raiders scored at least 24 points for the sixth consecutive game.

Since losing in Super Bowl XXXVII nearly 17 years ago, Oakland has made one playoff appearance. It’s all set up for the Raiders to make it two postseason berths during that span.