Oakland Raiders Playoff Scenarios: How Team Can Make NFL Postseason, Win 2019 AFC Wild-Card Spot

Believe it or not, the Oakland Raiders are still in the playoff hunt as they enter Week 17 of the 2019 NFL season. In one very unlikely, yet possible, scenario, Jon Gruden’s team can earn the second AFC wild-card spot.

To put it simply, four things have to go Oakland’s way. The Raiders need to win their season finale. They also need losses by the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Those results would give Oakland, Tennessee, Pittsburgh and the Indianapolis Colts the same record. The Raiders would own the tiebreaker for the No.6 seed, barring a series of highly improbable outcomes.

Oakland defeated Indianapolis in Week 4. Strength of victory would determine a three-way tiebreaker among the Raiders, Titans and Steelers.

Full AFC 6 seed scenarios:

*OAK clinches Strength of Victory over PIT unless all of the following occur:
1) CHI loses week 16
2) DET loses week 17
3) CHI loses week 17
4) LAC loses week 17
5) MIA wins week 17
— NFLPlayoffScenarios (@NFLScenarios) December 23, 2019

The Colts have already been eliminated from postseason contention. The Titans and Steelers are fighting for the No.6 seed.

The Raiders visit the Denver Broncos Sunday afternoon. Oakland beat Denver 24-16 at home in the season opener.

The Titans visit the Houston Texans in Week 17. Houston won in Tennessee 24-21 a couple of weeks ago.

The Steelers visit the Baltimore Ravens in the season finale. Baltimore needed overtime to eke out a 26-23 victory in Pittsburgh on Oct. 6.

Indianapolis visits the Jacksonville Jaguars on the final day of the regular season. The Colts blew out the Jaguars 33-13 in Week 11.

Jacksonville and Denver have been eliminated from contention for some time. Houston has already clinched the AFC South title with no chance of earning a first-round bye. Baltimore has clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

A win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 gave the Raiders a 6-4 record and a spot in the playoff picture. Oakland then lost four straight games by a total of 87 points.

A Week 16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers has kept the Raiders’ playoff chances alive. Oakland also got some help from Pittsburgh and Tennessee, both of whom lost.

Since losing Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003, the Raiders have made the postseason just once. Oakland was defeated 27-14 by Houston on Wild-Card Weekend 2017.