PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Shell Finally Looks at Standings

Art Shell has been checking the standings.

Finally.

Through most of the season, when asked by reporters if he was keeping close tabs on the battle for playoff spots, the Raider coach would always say he concentrated on the only thing he could control: His own team.

But now, with only five games to play and only half of the six conference playoff spots realistically within reach of the Raiders, Shell is paying attention.

“You kind of start looking a little bit now,” he said, “ after you win. Once the game is over, you try to figure out where everybody is.”

Here’s where everybody is in the AFC heading into Week 13:

Let’s assume that Buffalo (9-2), Pittsburgh (8-3) and Miami (8-3) are in the playoffs.

That leaves four teams--Denver (7-4), Kansas City (7-4), San Diego (6-5) and Houston (6-5)--ahead of the Raiders (5-6) and Cleveland (5-6) in a fight for three playoff spots, one of which goes to the winner of the AFC West.

The Raiders play three of their remaining five games against two of the teams they hope to catch. They have a home-and-home series against the Chargers and a game at the Coliseum against the Chiefs.

The other two teams immediately ahead of the Raiders have question marks at quarterback. Oiler quarterback Warren Moon, out with a broken shoulder, might not return during the regular season. Bronco quarterback John Elway sat out last week because of a bruised shoulder.