After picking up a solid win against the New York Giants in Week 13, the Oakland Raiders are surprisingly now atop the AFC West. At 6-6, the Raiders have the same record as the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, ensuring a closer-than-usual race during the last several games of the 2017 NFL season.
Even without Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, Oakland was able to find the end zone on the backs of Derek Carr and Marshawn Lynch. Lynch in particular was impressive as he was able to break loose for a 51-yard touchdown early in the game.
With the running back taking over games, Carr seems hopeful about the team’s chances of making it out of their division. According to Dieter Kurtenbach of Mercury News, the quarterback is almost in disbelief of his team’s current situation:
It’s just right in front of us. It’s there. Everything we want to do is right there,” Derek Carr said after Sunday’s win. “The NFL… crazy.”
Most fans would echo Carr’s statement given the Raiders’ up-and-down play for much of the season. With Kansas City spiraling at the end of the second half, it will be interesting to see who comes out of the AFC West.
The Raiders get a prime opportunity to establish themselves as the clear leaders of the division when they take on the Chiefs in Week 14. With a playoff berth at stake, expect this game to be a tough contest for both sides.