The Raiders (7-8) somehow staved off elimination from the AFC playoffs in Week 16. They stayed alive with their 24-17 victory over the Chargers in Los Angeles.
Oakland also got the help it needed with Pittsburgh (8-7) and Tennessee (8-7) losing, plus Indianapolis (7-8) winning earlier Sunday. That opens a simple path for the Raiders to make the playoffs as a .500 team in 2019.
First, the Raiders need a win in Week 17 to get to 8-8. They play at the Broncos; that's a winnable road game.
NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: Updated AFC, NFC standings for Week 16
Second, the Raiders need the Steelers to lose again. Pittsburgh also needs to go on the road, against the Ravens, but the AFC North champs might help the Steelers' cause by resting key players with their No. 1 seeding in the AFC playoffs already clinched.
Third, the Raiders need the Titans to lose again. Tennesee also needs to go on the road, against Houston, but the AFC South-champion Texans have little for which to play, with a top-two seed and a first-round bye out of reach.
Fourth, the Raiders need the Colts to win again. Indianapolis needs to go on the road, too, against the reeling Jaguars, who have gone into the tank. That seems to be the easiest part of the equation for Oakland.
The Raiders might be representing Oakland for the last time in Week 17 before moving to Las Vegas in 2020, but don't bet the house against them sneaking into the playoffs.
Crazier things have happened to end a season.
