Baltimore Ravens

Win and You're In: The Raiders Can Clinch a Playoff Spot on Sunday

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:06 p.m. ET

Fansided, Nick Hjeltness/FanSided via Just Blog Baby

With a win on Sunday, the Oakland Raiders can clinch their first playoff berth since 2002.

Simply put, the Raiders control their playoff destiny from here on out. If they win, they’re in.

That’s right…all the Raiders need to do is win one game, with no outside help of any kind needed, and they will clinch their first playoff appearance since the 2002 Super Bowl.

That’s quite the sentence to type, and it’s quite the feeling to have after all of the struggles this team has had. With the San Diego Chargers up next, beating a divisional rival to clinch would make it even sweeter.

Even though all Oakland has to do is win to get in, there are eight other scenarios where the Raiders could tie or lose, and still clinch a playoff spot.

1. Oakland tie + Dolphins lose

2. Oakland tie + Broncos lose

3. Oakland tie + Dolphins tie + Broncos tie

4. Oakland tie + Dolphins tie + Chiefs win

5. Dolphins lose + Steelers lose or tie + Broncos lose

6. Dolphins lose + Steelers lose or tie + Chiefs win or tie

7. Dolphins lose + Ravens lose or tie + Broncos lose

8. Dolphins lose + Ravens lose or tie + Chiefs win or tie

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The Dolphins play the Jets. The Broncos play the Patriots. The Steelers play the Bengals. So if Miami, Denver and Pittsburgh all lose, Oakland still gets in even if they lose.

With the three aforementioned teams, Raider Nation might have to hope for a Broncos win over the Patriots, just to keep the No. 1 seed in the AFC in play.

Diving into this any further is fairly pointless, but the above scenario seemed at least worth nothing.

Simply put — Just Win, Baby.