ALAMEDA, Calif. — The final week of the season for the Raiders the past eight years has been mostly about the status of the coach, personal goals and planning for the offseason.
With a win at home in the finale against San Diego and a little bit of help from other teams, including a Broncos’ loss, the Raiders (8-7) can make the playoffs for the first time since their 2002 AFC championship season.
While some of the scenarios are complicated, the simple fact is this: If the Raiders lose to the Chargers, they will be eliminated.
“I am not going to get caught up in all the different scenarios,” coach Hue Jackson said Monday. “I know they’re out there. I think I would be remiss as the leader of this football team if I just jumped over in that boat. I think the boat I have to jump in is getting this team to play as hard and well as it can play this weekend.”
Since going to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season, the Raiders had an NFL-worst seven straight seasons with at least 11 losses. Oakland ended that run by going 8-8 last season, but the Raiders were eliminated in the first quarter of their 15th game when Kansas City clinched the AFC West.
“This time of year you’re usually shipping your car home, making travel plans,” linebacker Quentin Groves said. “But now it’s about getting that W.”
And getting help. Oakland needs a win and a Broncos loss at home to Kansas City to win the division. The Raiders can get a wild-card spot by winning, having Cincinnati lose at home to Baltimore and either the New York Jets winning at Miami or Tennessee losing at Houston.
The Jets and Titans play early Sunday, but the Broncos’ and Bengals’ games will be simultaneous to Oakland’s.
“I’m not going to be one of those guys that says, ‘I won’t be paying attention.’ I will,” receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. “But all of that doesn’t matter if we don’t win. So the bottom line is, if we win and we don’t get in it hurts, but at least you handled your part of the deal.”
Footnotes: Running back Darren McFadden (foot), wide receiver Jacoby Ford (foot) and safety Michael Huff (hamstring) planned to run Monday to determine how close they are to returning to practice. Huff, who has missed the past two games, said he will play no matter what. Jackson said he’d have a better idea Wednesday of who could be ready to play.
