Logan LazarczykNov 12, 2026
Lazarczyk argues the Raiders can still contend for the AFC's final wild-card spot, naming the Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers, Chiefs and Bengals as locks for the top six seeds, calling Houston a sleeper, and predicting Las Vegas can beat the Chargers, Titans and Cardinals down the stretch.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Logan Lazarczyk said
That said, there's a chance the Raiders squeak in.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 2 Reasons Why Raiders Playoff Hopes Are Still Alive
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Surprise Team Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Game Outcome Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
How each call scored
10 checkable claims — 6 playoff picks, 3 game outcome picks and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Their call against the record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
Playoff Picks6 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“I would say the top six spots in the AFC playoff picture are solidified, with the Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers, Chiefs, and Bengals occupying those spots”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs
“I would say the top six spots in the AFC playoff picture are solidified, with the Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers, Chiefs, and Bengals occupying those spots”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs
“I would say the top six spots in the AFC playoff picture are solidified, with the Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers, Chiefs, and Bengals occupying those spots”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“I would say the top six spots in the AFC playoff picture are solidified, with the Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers, Chiefs, and Bengals occupying those spots”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“I would say the top six spots in the AFC playoff picture are solidified, with the Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers, Chiefs, and Bengals occupying those spots”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs
“I would say the top six spots in the AFC playoff picture are solidified, with the Bills, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers, Chiefs, and Bengals occupying those spots”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Surprise Team Calls1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Houston Texans to beat expectations
“The Houston Texans are a sleeper team to watch, despite being 3-5. Houston has a manageable schedule.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Game Outcome Picks3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Las Vegas Raiders to beat Cardinals
“Los Angeles, Tennessee, and Arizona are all teams the Raiders should beat.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Las Vegas Raiders to beat Titans
“Los Angeles, Tennessee, and Arizona are all teams the Raiders should beat.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Las Vegas Raiders to beat Chargers
“Los Angeles, Tennessee, and Arizona are all teams the Raiders should beat.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The games in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Others on the same people
Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.Jordan Dajani · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
After reporting that Colts receiver Josh Downs requested a trade, they identify five clubs as plausible landing spots for them: the Rams, Patriots, Falcons, Chiefs and Raiders, and suggests Las Vegas could also give them a long-term extension.Mike Kadlick · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Kadlick names the Chiefs, Patriots and 49ers as the three best trade landing spots for Colts wide receiver Josh Downs ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.
More playoff picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Ross Jackson · Playoff Picks · New Orleans Saints · Miss 0
Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Minnesota Vikings · Miss 0
Eisen argues Ohio State will produce multiple top-10 picks — Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs — becoming the first school with three defensive players in the top 10, and that Styles will not be available at No. 12 to the Cowboys. He also thinks Fernando Mendoza is worthy of the No. 1 overall pick and expects the Raiders to draft him, and picks Trey Lance over Anthony Richardson to start a game first, Micah Parsons to fetch a bigger trade return than Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins as the released QB most likely to reach the playoffs, and J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings' Week 1 starter.Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Carolina Panthers · Hit 100
Eisen forecast the Week 18 results and the entire wild-card field: Buccaneers over Panthers but Carolina still gets in as the 5 seed when Atlanta beats New Orleans, 49ers over Seahawks, Ravens over Steelers, Jaguars beating Tennessee to win the AFC South, and six wild-card matchups (Seahawks-Panthers, Bills-Jaguars, Texans-Ravens, Packers-Bears, Chargers-Patriots, Rams-Eagles), with Houston upsetting Baltimore. They also tabbed Saints rookie Tyler Shough as a possible Offensive Rookie of the Year.Rich Eisen · Playoff Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Eisen agreed the Bears are a team of destiny who will win the NFC, insisted the Packers will make the playoffs and won't lose at home to the Ravens, said the Steelers should make the playoffs, and endorsed the view that Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback.