Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers – NFL Week 17: Preview
The Oakland Raiders will be hoping to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002 when they host the San Diego Chargers this Sunday.
The Chargers have had a bad time this season having gone six straight losses but they have had three straight wins recently to boast of.
"When you lose six in a row in this league, you're probably not going to the postseason, but we fought our way back in it," said Philip Rivers.
The Chargers at 7-8 are a bit behind the Raiders who stand at 8-7. The Chargers have not missed a playoff since 2003 and can avoid missing one by ending the hopes of their AFC West rivals this Sunday.
For the Raiders, tensions run high as they are still faced with a must win situation to keep their chances of reaching the playoffs alive. Even after winning things do not end. They have to expect and hope for many other things
and take in a lot of help from other teams. They have both the options of reaching the playoffs open to them. With a wild card entry to the playoffs, Cincinnati must lose to the Baltimore Ravens and either have the Miami Dolphins beat the New York jets or
the Houston Texans beat the Tennessee. To make it by topping the AFC West seems a bit easier as only the Kansas City Chiefs need to beat the Denver Broncos which every much seems a possibility. The Chiefs have undergone much change in their attack and vigour
with the arrival of Romeo Crennel as the interim coach and having beaten the unbeaten Green Bay Packers recently.
All this is very complicated and sure to give a headache if one goes on dwelling into the possibilities. And coach Hue Jackson seems to be exactly avoiding this.
"I am not going to get caught up in all the different scenarios. I know they're out there. I think I would be remiss as the leader of this football team if I just jumped over in that boat. I think the boat I have to jump in is
getting this team to play as hard and well as it can play this weekend." Jackson said.
A victory over the Chargers does not seem an easy task keeping in mind the number of injuries that have plagued the Raiders. They have lost four key players to injury which includes their key running back Darren McFadden whose
been missing since Oct. 23 when he developed a foot sprain. However the Raiders have managed pretty well in the absence of these injured players, even though their defence has seen a fall in its rankings.
There are two things that the Raiders need to avoid. One is forfeiting penalties and the other is getting sacked. The Raiders struck well by pulling out of three straight losses to beat the Chiefs but they did give in 15 penalties
in the game. As for the injuries, they have suitable replacements propped up. For instance, Michael Bush has done a good job but will the shoulder injury continue to trouble him is yet to be known. The Raiders still have Carson Palmer and Jason Campbell to
do the job.
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