JBB columnist Austin Gayle breaks down the Oakland Raiders December schedule as the team looks to make a run for a Wild Card spot.

Nov 29, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) gathers with running back Latavius Murray (28) and teammates to pray after a win against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. The Raiders won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in December for the first time since 2011. Though their chances of claiming one of the two AFC wild card spots are slim, Oakland still has the opportunity to close the gap significantly if they can put together a successful December.

With the Denver Broncos (9-2) having a healthy lead in the division, the Raiders must look to capitalize on their 5-6 record and push past at least three of the five teams that currently sit at 6-5. With that being said, any sort of slump over the next few weeks could easily push Oakland out of the playoff race.

Though showing any amount of improvement over these last couple weeks could have a positive effect on Oakland’s confidence heading into the 2016 season, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr still understands what matters most in this league.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Carr said, via Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com. “That’s my mindset, though, is whatever it takes to win. In my preparation, in the weight room, on the practice field, on game day, that’s my mindset and that’s everyone’s mindset. That’s what makes this game so fun.”

Carr and the rest of his team understand that the real fun comes when the heightened level of preparations positively impacts the win column. In what seems to be Oakland’s most important month of games this season, let’s take a closer look at how much fun the Raiders could be having in the month of December.