With the Las Vegas Raiders at 6-5 and entering the 13th week of the NFL season, that means only one-third of the season remains.
Along with the Raiders, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos are 6-5 and all three teams are one game back of the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 7-4.
Looking at the AFC Playoff picture, the Raiders are just on the outside looking in, sitting at the No. 8 position, with seven teams making the playoffs in the league’s new postseason bracket this winter.
Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia said the team has to keep in mind of where they are at, with aspirations to make the playoffs for the first time in five years.
“Never lose sight of the race,” Bisaccia told the media Monday afternoon. “Where are we actually in the race? At this particular point, we’re right in the middle of it. We’re in the thick of it and that’s what we all think. Fortunately for us, we played well enough at times to be right in the thick of it.
“So, to some degree, we’re in control of making our decisions and how we’re going to practice and how we’re going to play.”
The Chargers, who currently hold the No. 7 spot, own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Raiders as the Bolts are the only 6-5 team in the AFC to be in playoff picture entering this week.
Cincinnati, who defeated the Raiders two weeks ago, in addition to Buffalo have the other two wild card spots as both are 7-4.
Tennessee, New England, Baltimore and Kansas City, who are the AFC division leaders are seeds one through four atop the standings.
Las Vegas Raiders remaining schedule
All six of the remaining teams the Silver and Black faces either currently hold a playoff spot or are still in the hunt.
| Date | Opponent | Time (PST) | TV |
| Sunday, December 5 | vs. Washington | 1:05 p.m. | FOX |
| Sunday, December 12 | @ Kansas City | 10:00 a.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, December 18 | @ Cleveland | 1:30 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Sunday, December 26 | vs. Denver | 1:25 p.m. | CBS |
| Sunday, January 2 | @ Indianapolis | 10:00 a.m. | CBS |
| Sunday January 9 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers | 1:25 p.m. | CBS |
In the Raiders’ final six games, three are against divisional opponents. Furthermore, after this week’s game against Washington, the final five matchups will be against AFC opponents, which could determine playoff tiebreakers and seeding come January.
Las Vegas Raiders schedule predictions
Week 13 – vs. Washington Football Team
Spread: Raiders -2.5
Moneyline: Raiders -140; Football Team +120
Over/under: 49.5
Vegas Sports Today Prediction: Raiders 30, Football Team 17
Week 14 – @ Kansas City Chiefs
Vegas Sports Today Prediction: Chiefs 29, Raiders 17
Las Vegas takes on Kansas City on Dec. 12 at Arrowhead Stadium. After losing 41-14 two weeks ago at home, the Raiders will look to get revenge and win their second consecutive game in Kansas City.
Week 15 – @ Cleveland Browns
Vegas Sports Today Prediction: Raiders 33, Browns, 32
In three weeks when Las Vegas faces Cleveland, it will be the second year in a row the team heads to FirstEnergy Stadium. It is the second time – and first since the 1971 and 1973 seasons – where the Raiders play in Cleveland on back-to-back occasions in the series.
Week 16 – vs. Denver Broncos
Vegas Sports Today Prediction: Raiders 24, Broncos 17
The Raiders host the Broncos the day after Christmas as the Silver and Black will go after their fourth straight win against Denver inside Allegiant Stadium.
Week 17 – @ Indianapolis Colts
Vegas Sports Today Prediction: Raiders 35, Colts 24
To start the new year, the Raiders play their eighth and final road game of the season against the Colts on Jan. 2, 2022. These two teams will face each other for the third consecutive year, with Indianapolis taking the victories in 2018 and 2020.
Week 18 – vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Vegas Sports Today Prediction: Raiders 27, Chargers 24
The regular season concludes on Jan. 9 against the Chargers in the first full season with fans at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders will look avenge its early season loss in Los Angeles.
Disclaimer: All our predictions are based on the Raiders keeping and starting these players:
- Quarterback: Derek Carr
- Running back: Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake
- Wide receiver: Hunter Renfrow, Bryan Edwards, DeSean Jackson
- Tight end: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau