The Las Vegas Raiders will play their biggest contest of the campaign in Week 17. They’ll host the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. The loser will enter the Week 18 regular-season finale with real-time possession of the No. 1 overall selection in April’s 2026 NFL draft.
The Giants and Raiders are currently the league’s lone two-win squads. To state the obvious, Sunday’s loser will possess the NFL’s worst record. Losing to the Giants on Sunday would be in the Raiders’ best interest. They’d then be a Week 18 defeat the Kansas City Chiefs away from clinching the top selection in the NFL draft.
Let’s address the tanking notion. The Raiders aren’t tanking or losing on purpose. They nearly defeated a very good Houston Texans team on Sunday, falling 23-21. Pete Carroll and his staff are coaching for their job security. Players are trying to secure future pay-days. The Raiders are losing because they’re bad at football, not because it’s intentional.
It would be better for the Raiders’ long-term organizational health if they lost on Sunday though. They would take possession of the No. 1 selection in the 2026 NFL draft with one regular-season contest remaining. That would guarantee the Raiders an opportunity to draft quarterback Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore.