The Raiders could miss the playoffs after losing trap game to Jets

The Oakland Raiders entered this week in a decent spot to make the playoffs, but that could go up in smoke after a truly horrific loss to the New York Jets.

All the Oakland Raiders had to do was beat the New York Jets. Welp.

It looks like the Raiders forgot they had to play the Jets, as New York ran Oakland off the field in a horrific blowout loss. The Jets made sure to take Josh Jacobs out of the game, limiting the rookie running back to 34 yards on 10 carries, while Derek Carr completed 15-of-27 passes for just 127 yards and an interception which Brian Poole returned for a touchdown.

The Raiders’ defense didn’t do much better, getting shredded by Sam Darnold for 315 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-29 passes. This was a game the Raiders absolutely had to win and they gave it away in epic fashion, putting their potential return to the postseason in serious jeopardy.

While the AFC playoff picture is wide open, Oakland has given away any cushion. Plus, they now travel for a first-place showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs next week at Arrowhead. With a win, everything is great.

However, a loss there would bring the Raiders back to 6-6, and they would probably need to run the table against the Titans, Jaguars, Chargers, and Broncos to make the playoffs.

The first two games in that stretch are at home, while the two divisional games are on the road, which is never easy. Buffalo has a mortal lock on the first wild card spot, meaning Oakland would need to survive a dog pile that includes Indianapolis, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, and potentially Cleveland.

With that group of mediocrity, there is still a chance that 9-7 would secure the second wild card spot in the AFC. Oakland cost itself its margin for error with this defeat against the Jets, and time will tell if this loss will be the game that keeps the Raiders home in January for their final year in the Bay Area.