On the NFL schedule, the playoffs formally start subsequent weekend.
Unofficially although, the Chargers-Raiders showdown Sunday night time in Las Vegas — the 272nd and last regular-season recreation of 2021 — is a playoff recreation, as a result of it’s a scrumptious win-and-you’re-in, lose-and-you’re-out state of affairs for each 9-7 groups vying for a wild-card berth.
For the Raiders, incomes a playoff spot can be a exceptional achievement contemplating the inordinate quantity of adversity they’ve endured this season, together with the banishing of head coach Jon Gruden for his racially insensitive emails and the automobile crash initiated by receiver Henry Ruggs III that left a girl lifeless.
Gruden was changed by Wealthy Bisaccia, a 20-year grinder as an NFL assistant from Yonkers who has led the Raiders to a 6-5 document since Gruden’s exit. Bisaccia has the Raiders on a three-game profitable streak getting into Sunday night time.
Ought to the Raiders win to get into the playoffs, possession, if it hasn’t already, might need to provide critical thought to eradicating the “interim’’ title from Bisaccia’s job description.
The matchup options the AFC’s high two passers — Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert and Las Vegas’ Derek Carr. Herbert (4,631) and Carr (4,618) rank first and second, respectively, in passing yards within the AFC this season.
The Chargers final week bounced again from two consecutive losses with a 34-13 win over Denver and are searching for their first playoff berth since 2018. Herbert handed for 237 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to the Broncos, and working again Austin Ekeler produced 112 yards from scrimmage and a TD.
The Raiders are coming off a 23-20 win over the Colts on a 33-yard discipline aim by kicker Daniel Carson as time expired final week to maintain their playoff hopes alive. They’re searching for their first playoff berth since 2016 and simply their second since 2002.
There’s a uncommon and weird playoff state of affairs that doubtlessly lies forward for the Chargers and Raiders. If the Colts occur to lose to the Jaguars on Sunday, then the Chargers and Raiders would get into the playoffs with a tie Sunday night time.
“I don’t suppose I ever handed math, so I don’t even know what the hell you simply talked about,” Bisaccia stated this week, laughing in regards to the playoff permutations.
“Hopefully I converse for everybody, however for me, I’m not even going to observe something,” Carr stated. “I hope the TVs are all off. I hope nobody’s watching, and I hope our full focus is on profitable the soccer recreation. Somebody stated we may simply take knees and tie if that’s the state of affairs. To me, will probably be full give attention to beating the Chargers, and I’m fairly assured that’s how our complete crew feels, it doesn't matter what. They beat us final time. We sort of simply need to play this recreation.”
The Raiders had been led final week by receiver Hunter Renfrow, who had seven catches for 76 yards and a TD. He has 99 receptions this season and desires 9 in opposition to the Chargers to interrupt the single-season franchise reception mark held by Darren Waller (107).
Talking of Waller, the Raiders hope to get the proficient tight finish again for Sunday’s recreation after he missed the previous 5 video games with knee and again accidents, together with a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 listing.
The groups’ final assembly was in Week 4. The Raiders had been nonetheless coached by Gruden and Ruggs was their high receiver. The Raiders had been 3-0 on the time and flying excessive. However the Chargers constructed a 21-0 lead and beat them, 28-14, at SoFi Stadium. Herbert handed for 3 TDs and the Chargers rushed for 168 yards, their second-highest output of the season.
In that recreation, the Raiders had been held to 48 speeding yards and Carr threw for 196 yards — his lowest complete in any recreation this season.
The Raiders made a second-half comeback that was indicative of their resilience this season. They’re virtually by no means out of it and have excelled in shut video games this season — going 6-2 in one-score video games and 3-0 in time beyond regulation. They’ve received 5 occasions on the ultimate significant play of the sport, 4 of these approaching game-winning discipline objectives by Daniel Carlson.
Post a Comment