The Raiders are heading back to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2002. Oakland defeated division rival San Diego on Sunday to win its 11th game of the season and clinch a postseason berth.
Raiders clinch a playoff berth after beating the Chargers in Week 15
Oakland returns to the postseason for the first time since 2002.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The franchise ended a 14-year drought that began immediately following a loss in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Raiders had not delivered a winning season since that fateful year, suffering through 10 campaigns with five wins or fewer in that span.
Oakland jumped into first place in the AFC West after coming from behind to beat San Diego on Sunday. The Chargers led, 16-13, in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t put away Derek Carr and one of the NFL’s most resilient offenses. The win also puts the Raiders in line for a first-round bye if they can fend off the Chiefs over the final two weeks of the season.
Two players have provided the foundation for the franchise’s long journey out of the woods. Carr has emerged as the most important quarterback selected in the 2014 NFL Draft by putting up MVP-level production behind center. The third-year starter rolled into Sunday’s contest on pace for a 4,300-yard, 30-touchdown season while only throwing five interceptions through his first 13 games.
But Carr isn’t alone. Linebacker Khalil Mack has emerged as a Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner thanks to his power, speed, and penchant for big plays. The third-year pass rusher has crushed rallies with clutch strip sacks in three different games this fall, recovering all three fumbles to push his team to the top of the AFC — albeit briefly.
Oakland still has plenty of work to do thanks to its position in the NFL’s toughest division. The Raiders still have to battle the Chiefs for the AFC West’s top spot, and the difference between winning and losing is a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the first two weeks of the playoffs. Kansas City owns a rock solid tiebreaker after winning both head-to-head games between these teams in 2016.
The Raiders can boost their record and work towards the AFC West with wins over the Colts and Broncos in their final two games.
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