Winning is best, not only path, to playoffs for Raiders

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

The astir nonstop way for the Raiders to suffice for the NFL postseason is by beating the Chargers astatine Allegiant Stadium connected Sunday night.

Win and they are in.

But determination are respective different paths that could instrumentality the Raiders to their eventual destination if they should someway travel up abbreviated of that goal.

While 5 playoff spots are already clinched successful the AFC, determination are inactive 2 unfastened spots and 130 seeding scenarios that could play retired depending connected the results of this weekend.

With truthful overmuch chaos, Raiders fans who person to beryllium astir each time Sunday waiting for the prime-time kickoff against the Chargers whitethorn person hard decisions to marque with respect to what games to ticker and who to basal for passim the day.

Let’s effort to marque it easy.

Any script for the Raiders to get into the playoffs with a nonaccomplishment begins with the Jaguars beating the Colts successful a 10 a.m. game.

Sure, the Colts are a monolithic 15-point favourite successful the crippled and are apt to win.

But those needing a glimmer of anticipation tin instrumentality solace successful the information the Jaguars person defeated Indianapolis six consecutive times successful Jacksonville. The past Colts triumph was successful 2014.

Should the Colts triumph the crippled and extremity that streak, they volition beryllium successful the playoffs portion Baltimore and Pittsburgh would officially beryllium eliminated, on with the loser of the Raiders-Chargers game.

Which means you tin conscionable halt speechmaking here.

But should the Jaguars win, things could get crazy.

The Pittsburgh-Baltimore crippled besides kicks disconnected astatine 10 a.m. with some teams harboring slim playoff hopes. The victor would stay alive, but inactive request help.

The Ravens would request the Patriots to bushed the Dolphins astatine 1:25 p.m. and the Raiders to bushed the Chargers.

A Pittsburgh triumph makes things adjacent crazier.

The Steelers would get successful arsenic agelong arsenic the Chargers-Raiders crippled doesn’t extremity successful a tie.

That has led to the chaotic speculation astir the AFC West rivals mutually agreeing to play to a necktie to marque definite some teams marque the playoffs should this improbable script arrive.

Raiders’ interim manager Rich Bisaccia and Chargers manager Brandon Staley person dismissed the conception passim the week, but Staley made immoderate absorbing comments connected the substance Friday.

“That’s a precise loaded script there,” helium said. “There’s a batch determination from a adaptable standpoint. It it’s each bully conjecture and I deliberation it’s worthy of consideration. I deliberation we’ll conscionable person to hold and spot if that concern expresses itself, and past we volition beryllium forced to marque a decision.”

Staley appeared to beryllium referring to an overtime script wherever helium whitethorn take to spell blimpish and settee for a necktie arsenic opposed to a mutually agreed upon necktie from the outset of the game.

If the Colts bash win, the Chargers would beryllium successful and the Raiders retired successful the lawsuit of a tie.

A non-tie successful the play finale would prevention everyone a batch of math.

The Associated Press