Does The Remaining Schedule Favor Oakland?
By Dave Thomas
With seven games left in the regular season, the Oakland Raiders sit atop the AFC West with a half-game lead over Kansas City and a full one-game advantage over Denver.
Yes, it is too early to crown a division champ, but at 7-2, the Raiders are looking pretty good these days. For a team trying to get back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 Super Bowl season, hopes are high in the Bay Area.
That said, Oakland still has its share of hurdles to cross if it wants to hoist the AFC West champion flag at the end of the season.
Will The Road Remain Friendly?
After the bye week (this week), the Raiders travel to Mexico City for a "home" game versus Houston, followed by a pair of home games (in Oakland) with Carolina and Buffalo, respectively.
Once those games are out of the way is where the schedule becomes a little trickier. All three of Oakland's final meetings with Kansas City, San Diego and Denver will be on the road. Considering that Kansas City and Denver are two of the more hostile places to play, those games could go a long way in determining whether or not the Raiders make it out of the AFC West as the top dog.
For Oakland, the season to date can already be considered somewhat of a success, though there is much more ball to be played. With seven wins in their back pocket, the Raiders are undoubtedly ahead of schedule.
Getting The Job Done At Home
Despite a 5-0 record on the road, Oakland is only .500 at home (2-2). When you look at the three remaining official home games, all three teams are far from pushovers for the Silver and Black. With Carolina (3-5) coming to town later this month, you have a Panthers squad that is out to show last season's Super Bowl run was not a fluke.
Despite injuries and sloppy play at times this season, Cam Newton and the Panthers are more than capable of winning at Oakland. If the Raiders take the Panthers lightly, that home record could have another dent in it.
Another tough task will be the resurgent Buffalo Bills (4-5).
The Bills gave Seattle fits this past Monday evening before falling 31-25. Buffalo actually had a chance to tie or even win the game late, but their fourth down attempt came up short. Expect the Bills to come to Oakland with the idea of going back to New York State with a victory.
With three-of-four games left on the road in December and on New Year's Day, Oakland will get Indianapolis (4-5) in Northern California.
Despite an up-and-down season for Andrew Luck and the Colts, Indianapolis is a team that can go on the road and win. Just last Sunday, the Colts went into fabled Lambeau Field and beat a Green Bay team that is still quite formidable at home.
Will Magical Season Unfold?
So, do the Raiders have what it takes to finish out the regular season, a season that could return them to the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade?
Even though the old adage of "one game at a time" certainly still holds true, there is likely little doubt Oakland fans are salivating at the idea of possibly hosting a home playoff game come January.
If that does happen, don't expect the Raiders and the Black Hole fans to go quietly.
As an Oakland fan, how far do you think this team will go?