Oakland Raiders: What You Need to Know Heading into Week 17

The Oakland Raiders will have plenty to play for in their final game of the season. There’s the job security of coach Dennis Allen, the future of their two quarterbacks and the prospective employment of about another four dozen players on the roster.

Additionally, if the Raiders can beat the Denver Broncos they’d also throw a bit of a wrench into the postseason plans of their AFC West rivals.

The biggest storyline for the game from Oakland’s perspective will be Terrelle Pryor’s return to the starting lineup following a five-week absence. In many ways, it could be a make-or-break game for the former Ohio State star.

Here are some of the other things you need to know heading into Week 17.

A week after stumbling against San Diego to let the Chiefs back in the division title hunt, the Denver Broncos picked up a much-needed win against the Houston Texans then got some help from the Indianapolis Colts, who knocked off Kansas City.

That put the Broncos’ destiny back in their own hands. A win in the season finale at Oakland would give Denver the outright division title as well as lock up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Kansas City is headed to the postseason regardless of what happens against San Diego in the regular-season finale, but the Chiefs haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders as of late.

The Chargers are the hottest team in the AFC with three consecutive wins and will try to parlay their streak into a playoff berth. First they’ll have to knock off Kansas City, then Mike McCoy’s gang will need some help from a few other teams to get in the door.

Oakland? The only hope remaining is to upset the Broncos and get a fifth win that would show some tangible signs of progress in Allen’s second year.

Tuesday marked the first time in quite a while that the Raiders had their enti...