Published Dec 27, 5:01pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Dec 27, 5:01pm ET
Grok AI
Updated Dec 27, 5:01pm ET
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| Las Vegas Raiders | +2.5 (-105) |
| New York Giants | -2.5 (-115) |
It's impossible to know if the Raiders needed to shut down star DE Maxx Crosby or if they did it as part of their plan to lose out and get the #1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Crosby is battered and has been playing with a knee injury. They also shut down star tight end Brock Bowers and safety Jeremy Chinn.
The argument could be made that by Week 17, every team could put 80% of its roster on injured reserve and it would pass muster against any league scrutiny as to its validity.
In Week 16, the Raiders very nearly upset the playoff-bound Texans, ultimately succumbing 23-21, but putting a scare into Houston. Ashton Jeanty ran for 128 yards on 24 carries and caught 2 passes for 51 yards, scoring 2 TDs.
The Texans could not stop praising him.
Texans Superstar Will Anderson Jr. on Raiders Rookie Ashton Jeanty after Sunday👇
— ShifftttyyyQB1🏴☠️ (@raiders1022) December 22, 2025
“I’ve never been in a game & actually stopped and was like “Dang 😳this man’s a dog.” Ton of respect for him man. He’s gonna be a really good player in this league. Have a ton of respect for him.” pic.twitter.com/m7f27kRE81
First and foremost, the Raiders need to decide what they're doing organizationally. Are they keeping the current front office led by John Spytek and the coaching staff fronted by Pete Carroll?
To make it more complicated, there isn't a consensus #1 pick sitting there in the upcoming draft. They need a quarterback. But part-owner Tom Brady might be understandably skeptical of the need to take a QB that high, considering that he's arguably the best QB ever and was taken 199th overall in 2000.
ALSO SEE: Steelers vs Browns | Week 17 Odds & NFL Pick (Dec 28)
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Maxx Crosby, DE | INJURED |
| Brock Bowers, TE | INJURED |
| Jeremy Chinn, S | INJURED |
| Kolton Miller, OT | INJURED |
| Raheem Mostert, RB | INJURED |
| Jack Bech, WR | INJURED |
| Jordan Meredith, C | INJURED |
The Giants have their long-term solution at QB (they hope) in Jaxson Dart. If they secure the #1 overall pick by losing out, they would presumably field offers to trade the pick, amass draft capital, and try to restock the roster with young talent.
An interesting scenario would have been if Arch Manning chose to enter the draft.
Would the Giants have taken the legacy pick, the nephew of team legend Eli Manning?
It's moot since Arch is returning to Texas for his senior year.
Now, New York has lost 9 straight and has managed the near-impossible of being the worst NFL team in the New York Metropolitan area.
Yes.
Even worse than the Jets.
Dart had the worst game of his nascent career in Week 16 against the Vikings. He completed 7 of 13 passes for 33 yards and was intercepted once. He barely ran, which appears to have been by design because the team does not want him to keep running head-first into collisions, particularly with the season already a historic disaster.
Jaxson Dart talks about bouncing back from his struggles against the Vikings:
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) December 24, 2025
"You look back at the tape, look at the things that you can correct. At the same time, I know the kind of player I am. I'm going to bounce back. I think everybody in their careers is going to have a… pic.twitter.com/wpvdpjD8q3
The Giants took Dart with their second 1st round pick. Their earlier pick, 3rd overall selection Abdul Carter, has been a bust on the field, benched for long stretches, and faced accusations of being late, among other transgressions.
These are equally terrible teams. It appears as though both are trying to lose or, at the very least, are not going all out to win.
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Anthony Johnson, S | INJURED |
| John Michael Schmitz Jr., C | INJURED |
| Theo Johnson, TE | INJURED |
| Andrew Thomas, OT | INJURED |
| D.J. Davidson, DT | INJURED |
| Evan Neal, OT | INJURED |
| Joshua Ezeudu, G | INJURED |
| Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DT | INJURED |
| Cor'Dale Flott, CB | INJURED |
| Tyler Nubin, S | INJURED |
| Beaux Collins, WR | INJURED |
| Kayvon Thibodeaux, LB | INJURED |
In Week 17 Giants-Raiders, the primary focus will be on which team loses and gets the chance to lose again next week and secure the #1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Las Vegas has already pulled several key players and put them on injured reserve. The Giants are undermanned as it is.
New York is a road favorite. Given how inept they've been in recent years, this is just the sort of game they're going to make the mistake of winning. The Giants will win the game and blow the top pick in the draft.
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New York Giants -2.5
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