NFL Playoffs: Ranking All Former Vols in the Postseason

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Dec 8, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera (81) looks to catch a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during a NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Oakland Raiders. Mychal Rivera. 5. player. 28. . Tight End

Mychael Rivera began integrating himself back into the Oakland Raiders’ passing offense weeks ago, and now he’s fully there. But just as he reached that point, Derek Carr suffered a season-ending injury.

Now, with the Raiders seemingly losing all hope in the NFL Playoffs, they will desperately need their weapons to step up and help Connor Cook, the third-stringer who will start the first game against the Houston Texans.

Oakland has a chance to win this game against an extremely overrated Houston team if Rivera steps up along with Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper. But Rivera is even more important than those two guys.

As a tight end, he will have to do a solid job of blocking to protect Cook and establish the run while also confusing the defense on what he’s going to do. The tight end is a crucial piece to helping any quarterback, and that’s especially true for an inexperienced quarterback.

The 6’3″ 245-pound target could directly shape the Raiders’ chances of advancing in their first appearance in the NFL Playoffs since the end of the 2002 season.

So despite only 192 receiving yards and one touchdown in this year’s regular season, Rivera’s importance is what puts him at No. 5 on this list.

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