If the Raiders win their last two games, they're in the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Last week, the crowded AFC playoff picture got a little thinner and the Raiders are right on the cusp at an 8-7 record, tied with three other teams. Only one playoff berth in the AFC has been clinched: the Kansas City Chiefs with their sixth straight division title win.
The Silver and Black boosted their playoff chances last Sunday with the 17-13 win over the Broncos from an estimated 11 percent to 16 percent, according to simulations by FiveThirtyEight. With a Raiders win over the Colts, the Silver and Black's chances at a wild-card spot jump to 56 percent.
However, if the Raiders lose Sunday, their playoffs hopes will be snuffed out if any of these five scenarios occur:
- Raiders loss + Chargers win + Ravens win/tie
- Raiders loss + Chargers win + Bills win/tie + Patriots win/tie
- Raiders loss + Chargers win + Bills win/tie + Dolphins win/tie
- Raiders loss + Steelers win + Ravens win + Bills win/tie + Patriots win/tie
- Raiders loss + Steelers win + Ravens win + Bills win/tie + Dolphins win/tie
Take a look at the full AFC standings below:
| Current AFC Standings | Upcoming Games |
|---|---|
| 1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) | at Bengals, at Broncos |
| 2. Tennessee Titans (10-5) | vs. Dolphins, at Texans |
| 3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) | vs. Chiefs, at Browns |
| 4. Buffalo Bills (9-6) | vs. Falcons, vs. Jets |
| 5. Indianapolis Colts (9-6) | vs. Raiders, at Jaguars |
| 6. New England Patriots (9-6) | vs. Jaguars, at Dolphins |
| 7. Miami Dolphins (8-7) | at Titans, vs. Patriots |
| 8. Baltimore Ravens (8-7) | vs. Rams, vs. Steelers |
| 9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-7) | vs. Broncos, at Raiders |
| 10. Las Vegas Raiders (8-7) | at Colts, vs. Chargers |
| 11. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1) | vs. Browns, at Ravens |
| 12. Cleveland Browns (7-8) | at Steelers, vs. Bengals |
| 13. Denver Broncos (7-8) | at Chargers, vs. Chiefs |
| 14. New York Jets (4-11) – eliminated from playoffs | vs. Buccaneers, at Bills |
| 15. Houston Texans (4-11) – eliminated from playoffs | at 49ers, vs. Titans |
| 16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) – eliminated from playoffs | at Patriots, vs. Colts |
