After starting the season 2-0, the Raiders have now lost back-to-back games and the Super Bowl champions in the Kansas City Chiefs are next on the schedule. The Raiders are staring down the possibility of starting the season 2-3 before heading into their Week 6 bye.
But what are the chances that the Raiders will be able to get over this tough stretch and actually make a run at the playoffs? According to ESPN’s FPI, the odds aren’t very good.
In a recent power ranking article by ESPN, the Raiders came in at No. 17, dropping two spots from last week. More importantly, the site gave them a 27.3 percent chance of making the playoffs this season Take a look at what beat writer Paul Gutierrez had to say about their ranking and playoff odds:
“You know what, with the Raiders now calling Las Vegas home, I’m going to gamble and say this is too low. Sure, the past two losses have been dispiriting, and another thumping at Kansas City might be in the offing. But entering the season, a 2-3 record at the bye would have been just fine, thank you very much, and a nice springboard into a schedule that lightens up a bit after said bye. So long as the Raiders’ defense can figure out some things. Otherwise, forget everything I just typed.”
A 2-3 record given their opening schedule always seemed the most likely. However, the schedule doesn’t get much easier after the bye with games against the 3-1 Buccaneers and Browns. For the Raiders to have a chance of making the playoffs, they need to emerge from the first half of the season at 4-4 to give themselves a shot at a Wild Card berth.
The schedule does get much easier in the second half of the season, but it’s not hard to see why FPI might be less optimistic about their playoff chances this season. But an upset win over the Chiefs in Week 5 could go a long way to securing a playoff spot in the AFC.
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