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Jordan Raanan
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — There’s a lot at stake for two 2-13 teams on Sunday when New York Giants And las vegas raiders See you at Allegiant Stadium (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS). That is, pole position for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
According to ESPN Analytics, the Giants and Raiders currently have a 37.6% and 36.2% chance, respectively, to land the coveted top pick. The Giants will be comfortably in the driver’s seat heading into the Week 18 matchup dak prescott and this dallas cowboys If they lose in Las Vegas. Same with raiders kansas city chiefs On the horizon of its completion.
New York’s chances of taking the top spot drop to 73% with the loss to the Raiders. With wins they drop to 6%. In contrast, the Raiders go 69% with a loss and less than 1% with a win.
This is all possible because the Giants and Raiders are losing nine games in a row. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this is the first time in NFL history that two teams with at least a nine-game skid meet during a season.
But there’s clearly more at stake for both teams than just ending their losing streak, even if those involved may not want to see it that way.
“I mean, I don’t really think we talk too much about that part about draft positioning and wanting a certain pick or anything like that,” the veteran wide receiver. van’dale robinson Said. “I think we just want to go out there and play our best football and go out there and win.”
For the Giants, a win could mean preventing them from making a significant move in a trade for the top pick, possibly from a team that is in desperate need of a quarterback. Or they could just stick to No. 1 and select a top-rated player without any hesitation or obstruction.
For the Raiders, a loss could mean losing their choice of top quarterback in this year’s draft, whoever they decide — possibly Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore, should they declare for the draft. This could prove valuable for the 35-year-old starter (and former veteran) geno smith,
Either way, it’s not hard to see why this game between two struggling teams is so valuable. So while the loser may technically be the winner, it’s not something Giants interim coach Mike Kafka even mentioned to his team this week.
“I haven’t talked to the players about it. The players want to win. The coaching staff wants to win this week,” Kafka said. “Like, that’s our only focus this week. And so, all of our messages, what we’re talking about is how can we get better as a team, number one, and then what we have to do today to go to Vegas and beat the Raiders.”
Tell this to each team’s fan base. The public focus is primarily on what this game means in terms of draft positioning.
Giants rule out left tackle Andrew Thomas Friday with a hamstring injury and Kendra John Michael Schmitz Jr.He is suspected to be suffering from a finger problem that hinders his ability to photograph,
Las Vegas tight end brock bowers and safety jeremy chinn On injured reserve earlier this week. Bowers has struggled with a knee injury for much of this season but it ended in Sunday’s loss houston texansChinn also landed on IR after playing all 61 defensive snaps against the Houston Texans,
But don’t count the Raiders on the rise max crosby About the position for any draft pick.
“Yeah, honestly, I don’t say anything about the selection. I don’t play for him. It’s not my job,” Crosby said after the 23–21 loss to the Texans. “My job is to be the best defensive end in the world. That’s what I focus on every day. And being a great leader, being an influencer, being a guy that gets things done for his team on a consistent basis.
“That’s their job, the front office, the coaches. They do that. But it has nothing to do with me. I’ve learned that lesson in the past. I’m not trying to … you can’t control everything. That’s not my job description. My job is to be the best in the world at what I do. It’s ruining the game.”
finally the attacker stop crosbyMuch to his dismay. He was ruled out on Sunday because of a long-standing knee problem, which he wanted to play through.
It’s not Crosby’s responsibility to worry about the draft, yet it might as well be futile.
The Giants played against Washington at the end of the 2019 season in what has been famously named “The Chase Young Bowl”. The loser of that game should have received prime position to draft the former Ohio State standout chase young,
New York won behind five touchdown passes Daniel JonesThe Commanders selected Young second overall in the 2020 draft, The Giants, perhaps coincidentally, ended up with standout left tackle Andrew Thomas,
Unfortunately, New York has often been in this situation in recent years. The Giants won against the Colts in Week 17 last year, knocking them out of the race for the No. 1 overall pick. tennessee titans quarterback finally chosen cam ward With the top pick while the Giants took the lead abdul carter Third overall and had to be traded back to the bottom of the first round for a quarterback jackson dart,
The Giants also won three consecutive games to end the 2023 season tommy devitto at quarterback to eliminate them from the quarterback race Caleb Williams, jayden daniels And drake mayHe was selected by Chicago, Washington and New England, respectively, while New York went No, 6 and landed star wide receiver malik nabors,
The Giants have not selected the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft since running back Tucker Frederickson from Auburn in 1965.
