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Despite the three-game winning streak, the Oakland Raiders are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture. They are the No. 7 seed in AFC, just behind the Buffalo Bills (7-3) and the Houston Texans (6-4).
However, things can change very quickly in the AFC, and with the Raiders facing the 3-7 Jets on Sunday, a win could quickly put them in the driver’s seat in the wild card race.
According to the New York Times playoff simulator, the Raiders currently have a 45 percent chance of making the playoffs. But with a win on Sunday, those odds increase to 56 percent, regardless of any other outcome over the weekend. If teams such as the Colts or Steelers lose, those odds can move all the way up into the 60s.
However, a loss on Sunday would be devastating to the team’s playoff chances. Losing to the Jets would drop their playoff odds down to just 29 percent as Oakland would essentially need to win four of their final five games to make the postseason.
While Sunday’s game is just one of 16 for the Raiders, it feels much more important than that. Oakland needs the win to stay on pace with teams like the Colts, Steelers, and Bills, especially with a Week 13 matchup with the Chiefs looming.
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