Why Texans sitting QB Deshaun Watson isn't good for Raiders' NFL playoff hopes

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The Raiders need plenty of things to go right in the final week of the NFL regular season to still make the playoffs. They aren't getting much help, though.

Aside from first having to beat the Denver Broncos on the road, the Silver and Black need the following scenarios to happen:

-- The Baltimore Ravens to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers

-- The Houston Texans to beat the Tennessee Titans

-- The Indianapolis Colts to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars

The Raiders also would clinch a strength-of-victory tiebreaker over the Steelers if one of the following teams win or tie: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers or New England Patriots.

You get all that?

The Ravens already are sitting MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson, and will go with Robert Griffin III at QB against the Steelers, as Baltimore has locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That certainly is a gut punch to Raiders fans. 

It got worse Sunday, too. 

Texans coach Bill O'Brien started backup AJ McCarron over star QB Deshaun Watson. Houston also has several key players inactive Sunday. 

The Texans already have locked up a top-four playoff seed, so a Week 17 loss wouldn't hurt them. But having McCarron instead of Watson at quarterback could hurt the Raiders big time.

McCarron, who was a Raiders backup last season, has appeared in only one game this season and hasn't completed a single pass. He has thrown for 928 yards in 14 career games with six touchdowns and two interceptions.

[RELATED: How Renfrow is Raiders’ most reliable receiver vs. Broncos]

That's a massive step down from Watson, to say the least.

The Raiders must keep their focus on the Broncos, but they aren't receiving any help around the league as they try to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

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