The Las Vegas Raiders salvaged their season when they pulled off a 38-33 comeback victory at the New York Jets on Sunday.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak. Had the Raiders, who trailed by two scores at halftime, not came from behind and lost to the woeful Jets, they would have fallen to 3-5. They would have been in big trouble in the AFC.
Now, they have a chance. Las Vegas has the ninth best record in the AFC, tied with the Baltimore Ravens at 4-4. But the Ravens are without star quarterback
Lamar Jackson, so the Raiders can push forward.
While the Raiders saved their season in Week 8, the work is just starting.
The play at the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, then host the Seattle Seahawks and then visit the AFC West leading Denver Broncos. The three teams are a combined 16-7. The Raiders’ four wins have come against teams with a combined 5-24.
The Raiders need to find a way to win two of these three next games to end a tough eight-game stretch with a 3-5 record after starting the season a perfect 3-0.
If the Raiders can head to Thanksgiving with a winning record, they will be in good shape in the AFC playoff hunt with a manageable final six games.
But being 5-6 or worse, would make things tougher.
The Raiders responded when they needed to in Week 8, now they have to continue that trend.
