Raiders position ranges from playoff spot to high draft pick

After a win on Sunday against the Broncos, the Raiders -- with three games remaining -- find themselves hovering in that area between a high draft pick and a playoff berth. Based on how their final three games end up, they could go either way.

At this point, the Raiders could be anywhere from the second overall pick in the draft to squeezing into the playoffs. Hard to believe, but it's true. As each week passes, that range will vary.

This is the current playoff picture:

Division winners:

1. New England Patriots (10-3)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (10-3)
3. Denver Broncos (10-3)
4. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)

Wildcards:

5. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
6. New York Jets (8-5)

In the hunt:

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)
8. Oakland Raiders (6-7)
9. Buffalo Bills (6-7)
10. Houston Texans (6-7)
11. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)

The kicker is the Raiders technically don't need to win out to make the playoffs. Should the Jets lose out and one of either the Chiefs or the Steelers lose out, the Raiders could finish 2-1 over the final three and get in with an 8-8 record. That still makes next week's game crucial because should they lose and any two of either the Steelers, Chiefs, or Jets win, the Raiders would be out.

As for the draft position, they dropped four spots from last week. They were in the 13 spot, now they sit in the 17 spot. Here is the top of the draft order:

1. Tennessee Titans: 3-10 (.498 strength of schedule) 
2. San Diego Chargers: 3-10 (.527 SOS) 
3. Cleveland Browns: 3-10 (.529 SOS) 
4. Baltimore Ravens: 4-9 (.517 SOS)
5. Detroit Lions: 4-9 (.529 SOS)
6. San Francisco 49ers: 4-9 (.531 SOS)
7. Dallas Cowboys: 4-9 (.541 SOS)
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-8 (.469 SOS) 
9. New Orleans Saints: 5-8 (.512 SOS) 
10. Chicago Bears: 5-8 (.524 SOS - 2-7 in conference) 
11. St. Louis Rams: 5-8 (.524 SOS - 4-5 in conference) 
12. Miami Dolphins: 5-7 (.473 SOS) 
13. New York Giants: 5-7 (.502 SOS) 
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-7 (.478 SOS) 
15. Atlanta Falcons: 6-7 (.488 SOS) 
16. Oakland Raiders: 6-7 (.500 SOS) 
17. Philadelphia Eagles: 6-7 (.512 SOS - 3-6 in conference) 
18. Houston Texans: 6-7 (.512 SOS - 4-4 in conference) 
19. Buffalo Bills: 6-7 (.522 SOS) 
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-5 (.510 SOS)

To see the entire draft order, click here

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