An 8-8 record won’t get the Raiders into the playoffs and it leaves the team a victory short of producing its first winning season since 2002.
So, a victory Sunday over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium wouldn’t be cause for fans to rejoice.
But if the 7-8 Raiders can knock off the 10-5 Chiefs (1:25 p.m. kickoff) it will rank as one of the team’s signature victories of 2015, another signal that the team is on the rise and equal the franchise’s best record since 2002, matching the .500 records of 2003, 2010 and 2011.
Plus, the Raiders would finish with a 4-2 mark against AFC West foes and give Oakland a victory against all three opponents since 2011.
But, winning at Arrowhead is a difficult task and beating the Chiefs is something no NFL team has been able to accomplish since Week 5 of the season. Kansas City has won nine straight games, tying a franchise record, and could clinch the AFC West championship with a win.
The Chiefs will be playing in front of their usual loud, supportive crowd Sunday, which will force the Raiders to play efficiently and in control if they want to win.
“You have to have poise in the noise,” Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio told the media this week. “You’re going to have noise. For us, we’ve been pretty solid at the way we’ve traveled, business-like approach, so I think really that’s what it takes going in there to play well. Hostile environment … If we play well, they won’t be quite as loud.”
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The Chiefs beat the Raiders on Dec. 6 in Oakland, 34-20, and oddsmakers make them a seven-point favorite to lock up the season sweep.
The Raiders not only want to finish 2015 with a win, but this game will be important for several individuals as well. This will mark the final game for retiring safety Charles Woodson. Also, quarterback Derek Carr needs just 207 passing yards to reach 4,000 this season. If he can do that, it would give the Raiders their first season with a 4,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher (Latavius Murray) and 1,000-yard receiver (Amari Cooper). Wide receiver Michael Crabtree also could reach the 1,000-yard mark with 112 receiving yards Sunday.
On defense, NFL sack leader Khalil Mack, who has 15, could tied the Raiders single-season sack record of 16 and become the first Oakland player to lead the league in sacks since Derrick Burgess in 2005.
