One local Giants’ TV analyst referred to Sunday’s Giants- Raiders’ game as “The Toilet Bowl,” as one of the league’s 2-13 cellar dwellers likely will have the top pick in the 2026 draft.
Still, this game still may seem interesting. For whatever reason, these games always interest me due to the nature of it.
Interim head coach Mike Kafka will probably turn Jaxson Dart loose, throwing the ball more than his 33 yards against the Vikings last week. Dart may have a challenge as the Raiders are ranked 17th in pass defense.
In all likelihood, both teams will have new coaches next season , and with the Giants, a new GM could be in the mix.
Something has to give here with both teams saddled with nine-game losing streaks. New York has not won a game since Oct. 9, and the Raiders have gone winless since Oct. 12.
That seems like an eternity, Giants’ fans, doesn’t it?
Don’t worry, though, because win or lose, the outcome can play prominently in their future.
If the Raiders lose, they will probably take Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore as their next franchise quarterback.
If the Giants’ lose, they can either draft a lineman, linebacker, or cornerback, or they could trade the pick for a package that could help further solidify their team.
Even though both teams have vehemently denied dropping the game for the top overall pick, their injured lists might reflect otherwise.
The Giants will be without tackle Andrew Thomas, center John Michael Schmitz, and also corner Tyler Nubin in their always banged-up secondary, while the Raiders will be missing tight end Brock Bowers, safety Jeremy Chinn and possibly two others.
More importantly, though, the game can be one of the first steps in the Giants’ resurgence.
Either way, the Giants will be in a good position with either the first-or second pick.
They can be major trade players with the first pick, getting a haul notably from the Jets if they want Mendoza, and there are plenty of signs they do.
With the first or second pick, the Giants could also land Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson or Ohio State’s Cornell Tate to pair with Malik Nabors. They also could take beefy linemen Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan, or Utah’s Spencer Fano, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain Jr., or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
All of their stocks are on the rise, and reportedly are can’t miss picks.
With the return of Nabors and Cam Scatterboo, the Giants can add some valuable pieces around them and Jaxson Dart. Everyone tends to look at their current record and forget that Nabers and Scatterboo haven’t been a big part of it. Wan’Dale Robinson is on the verge of his first 1,000-yard season.
A piece or two on defense also can make a difference from lifting the unit from the bottom half of the league’s defense, notably being 31st in rushing defense with more than 150 yards a game.
The Giants will also have to do some creative financing to expand their projected $17 million cap space for 2026. Abdul Carter has finally looked like the game changer the Giants envisioned.
These Giants may not be as far away from a .500 or better team as mostly everyone thinks they are.
What we need to remember here is this whole scenario could change if the Giants win and beat the Cowboys the final week, and the Browns and Jets continue to lose.
However, this can be all conjecture, and there may be a new picture come January.
In the meantime, enjoy a game Sunday that may be more than a “Toilet Bowl.”
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