OAKLAND – The Oakland Raiders, a popular playoff flavor of the midseason, are now 4-5 and have lost back-to-back games to likely playoff teams Pittsburgh and Minnesota.
Oakland fell to under .500 for the first time in a month in a 30-14 home loss to Minnesota. The Raiders, 2-3 at home, were outplayed by the Vikings but kept the game close.
While the loss certainly stings for the Raiders, it is not overly damaging. Oakland still has a chance to regroup and make the playoffs for the first time in 13 years.
The key is the next three games.