In a season defined by struggle, the New York Giants delivered a statement victory on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, improving to 3-13 while dropping to No. 2 in the 2026 NFL draft order.
Many outsiders had urged the team to tank for the top pick, but interim head coach Mike Kafka made it clear that was never an option.
“Yeah, I mean, the things that we were playing for were for each other,” Kafka told reporters following the 34-10 win. “To a man in that room, and having each other’s back and playing as hard as we can for each other. You get into a football locker room, it’s a family. Sometimes you have to go through the ups and downs, but you understand, you keep on plugging away, keep on putting in the hard work, and then you’ll get the result you want.”
When asked if anyone in the building discussed approaching the game with an eye on draft position or the integrity of competition, Kafka was direct.
“No, the only discussions we had were just, how can we find a way to win and put our players in the best position to do that,” he said.
That pride manifested in standout performances. Quarterback Jaxson Dart bounced back from recent struggles, managing the game masterfully while deliberately targeting Wan’Dale Robinson to help him reach a personal milestone.
Robinson finished with 11 catches for 113 yards, eclipsing 1,000 yards for the season — a mark Kafka called “a big deal.”
“To get it and also get the win, I think it’s kind of just the cherry on top for him,” Kafka said of Robinson.
The locker room erupted in genuine celebration, proof that professional athletes compete for each other, not draft slots.