The New York Giants didn’t just win a football game in Las Vegas; they rewrote the final week of the season for two franchises. By beating the Raiders 34-10 at Allegiant Stadium, the Giants snapped a nine-game losing streak and simultaneously pushed Las Vegas into the pole position for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. For the Raiders, now 2-14 after a tenth straight loss, the math is simple: lose to Kansas City in Week 18, and the top pick is theirs.

Draft stakes define a lopsided Raiders-Giants finale

This matchup arrived with both teams tied for the NFL’s worst record. It left with a clear pecking order. Las Vegas holds the No. 1 spot in the draft order and, per projections, carries an 80% chance to finish there. One twist remains: the Giants could still reclaim the top slot if they lose to Dallas and the Raiders beat the Chiefs next week.

That’s the raw, high-stakes backdrop to a game that felt like more than Week 17. It was a sorting hat for two struggling rosters. The Raiders’ defense opened with energy, but a string of early three-and-outs from the offense tilted the field. From there, the Giants controlled tempo, territory, and the scoreboard.

“Are we watching a race for the pick or a race for pride? Today felt like both.”

How the game unfolded: Giants steady, Raiders sputter

The final score read Giants 34, Raiders 10, with quarter-by-quarter control from New York: 7, 10, 10, 7. Las Vegas answered with 0, 3, 7, and 0. The Giants outgained the Raiders 343-231 and won the situational downs that decide games like this.

New York quarterback Jaxson Dart led the way with a balanced, composed performance: 207 passing yards, 48 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns. He wasn’t flashy; he was efficient and decisive, especially in the red zone where his legs became the difference.

Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was a magnet for targets and a chain-mover all afternoon. He hauled in 11 catches for 113 yards and, more importantly, crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season — a major personal milestone on a difficult Giants campaign.

On defense, linebacker Bobby Okereke produced the game’s defensive highlight, jumping a route and rumbling 48 yards on an interception return. It was the kind of swing play the Giants have been missing during their skid, and it helped seal momentum before halftime.

Numbers that tell the story

• Final: Giants 34, Raiders 10
• Quarter scores: Giants (7, 10, 10, 7); Raiders (0, 3, 7, 0)
• Records: Raiders 2-14 (10 straight losses); Giants 3-13 (1-8 away)
• Total yards: Giants 343; Raiders 231
• Jaxson Dart: 207 pass yards, 48 rush yards, 2 rush TDs
• Wan’Dale Robinson: 11 receptions, 113 yards, surpasses 1,000 yards receiving
• Bobby Okereke: 48-yard interception return

“Dart looked calm, Wan’Dale looked ready, and the Raiders looked stuck in neutral.”

Raiders’ slide continues — and the absences hurt

Las Vegas was without two of its most important players: edge rusher Maxx Crosby and rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Those losses showed up on both sides of the ball. Without Crosby’s heat, Dart had time to operate. Without Bowers’ matchup threat, the Raiders struggled to sustain drives or create easy throws in the middle of the field.

The offense never found rhythm. Early three-and-outs kept the defense on the field, and the totals tell the tale: only 231 yards for the game, and just 10 points. A late second-quarter field goal and a third-quarter touchdown were the only dents on the scoreboard.

Afterward, one Raider summed up the awkward truth of late-season football when draft position looms: “I mean, everybody heard about it. I didn’t pay too much attention to it… Obviously, I’m going out there trying to win every game that I play. There’s no guarantee that I’m here next year.” That’s the player mindset: control what you can, even when the standings suggest another strategy.

Giants celebrate a win, but change their draft math

This is the second straight year a late-season Giants win likely cost them the inside track to the top pick. That speaks to a team that refuses to fold, but it also changes their offseason path. Instead of a clear shot at the board’s very top, New York has moved back a step — with one more week to play and one more result to influence the final order.

Still, the Giants leave Vegas with teachable positives. Dart stacked a clean road game. Robinson’s 1,000-yard achievement is a bright light in a dark season. And a defense that has bent too often put up a few big moments, led by Okereke’s takeaway.

“Giants might’ve lost the top pick, but they found a little identity today.”

What Week 18 means now

All eyes turn to two games. If the Raiders lose to the Chiefs, they will clinch the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. If the Giants lose to the Cowboys and the Raiders upset Kansas City, New York could slide back into that top spot. It’s a strange finish: wins feel good, but the future value of losses is obvious.

For Las Vegas, the long view now dominates. A top pick can change a franchise’s direction. That doesn’t erase the frustration of a 2-14 record and a 10-game skid, but it adds meaning to a painful stretch. For the Giants, Sunday was a reminder that growth can show up even late, even on the road, even after nine straight defeats.

Bottom line

The Giants earned a rare payoff in a hard season, 34-10, with steady quarterback play, a receiver milestone, and a timely defensive splash. The Raiders, undermanned and outgunned, slid into first place in the only race that now matters to them — the draft order. Week 18 will set the final draft slots, but the message is already clear: two struggling teams took different kinds of wins from Vegas, and only one showed up on the scoreboard.

Next week decides the paperwork. Sunday decided the story.