3 takeaways: Raiders lose game, but win ‘Tank Bowl’ in quest for No. 1 pick
The Raiders are one loss from securing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Playing in a game dubbed “The Tank Bowl,” the Raiders were far worse than the Giants, losing 34-10 in a matchup between two-win teams Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
All the Raiders (2-14) have to do to lock up the No. 1 pick is lose to the Chiefs (6-10) in Week 18 at Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. Sunday on CBS, giving Raiders fans plenty of time to get their “Don’t Blow It” T-shirts printed.
If they lose to Kansas City, the Raiders, who have dropped 10 straight, would be in position to draft their potential franchise quarterback. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore are considered the top two quarterback prospects if they decide to enter the draft.
Four teams have three wins — the Giants, Jets, Titans and Cardinals — so if the Raiders defeat the Chiefs, they aren’t guaranteed the No. 1 pick. Strength of schedule will decide the draft order for teams with the same number of wins.
Sunday’s game had a familiar theme: The Raiders struggled on offense. They finished with 231 yards, with only 63 rushing.
Quarterback Geno Smith was intercepted twice, giving him 17 this season. On his second interception, he was injured and limped to the sideline and didn’t return. Coach Pete Carroll said Smith suffered a high ankle sprain and and most likely won’t play against the Chiefs.
Here are three takeaways from the loss:
1. Raiders tank without tanking
There was an uneasy feeling inside the stadium early, with fans anxiously waiting to see how both teams would play, given the draft implications.
Even more so for Raiders fans when Smith drove the offense to the Giants’ 12-yard line in the first quarter of a scoreless tie. He then threw his first interception to squash the drive.
Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke returned the ball to the Raiders’ 44, setting up New York for a short touchdown drive, capped by Devin Singletary’s 1-yard run.
The entire sequence drew a sigh of relief from the extremely conflicted crowd.
None of which sat well with the players, of course.
“Everybody’s talking about tank, tank, whatever. I mean, it doesn’t make sense for the players,” Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu said. “Because if we’re tanking and you’re purposely trying to lose, you’re messing up your career. It’s like going to your job, and people are telling you to underperform because you’re going to get new workers or something; you’re going to get fired. If you don’t go out there and perform, you’re going to get fired.”
2. Defense helpless without Crosby
It’s not as if the Raiders were winning games with star defensive end Maxx Crosby on the field, but none of that was his fault. He always did his job, regardless of how others were playing.
And without question, even in losses, his presence was felt almost every time an opposing offense snapped the ball.
Without Crosby, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday with a left knee injury, the Giants could comfortably do whatever they wanted without having to sacrifice two or three blockers to stop him.
As a result, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and the Giants marched up and down the field as they pleased. They piled up 343 yards of offense, with Dart throwing for 207 yards and rushing for 48 and two touchdowns. They scored on five straight possessions at one point, including a 95-yard kickoff return by Deonte Banks to stretch the lead to 27-10.
Dart’s favorite target was wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who caught 11 passes for 113 yards.
Carroll did not believe Crosby’s absence resulted in a mental letdown from the players. Or star tight end Brock Bowers on offense, for that matter. The performance simply reflected what a massive loss it is when neither player is on the field.
“The issue is those guys weren’t playing,” Carroll said. “And then we go down a level.”
3. Mayer shines in bigger role
With Bowers going on injured reserve with a left knee injury last week, an opportunity opened up for backup tight end Michael Mayer.
In college, Mayer and Bowers were considered the best tight ends in the country. And while Mayer has played behind Bowers the past two seasons, the Raiders have blatantly misused the former Notre Dame star.
That changed Sunday when Mayer posted career highs with nine catches for 89 yards.
“I haven’t been able to do that in a while,” Mayer said. “I know we didn’t win the game, but to be able to do that and to be able to really just give myself some confidence, whether it’s the first game of the season or the second-to-last game of the season, it feels really good.”
It was a reminder of his dynamic talent and potentially a tone-setter for the future. Bowers and Mayer can be the best tight end tandem in the NFL, but it’s on the offensive coaches to make sure both are used correctly.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
