HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders nearly pulled off an upset against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
By playing their best football in several weeks and still coming up short in the 23-21 loss, Las Vegas remained in the running for the top pick in next year's NFL draft.
If the Raiders continue to play as well as they did against the Texans, that top pick likely won't be available because their next two opponents — the New York Giants on Sunday and the Chiefs the week after — are beatable and both games are at home. The Raiders, in fact, are favored by a point over the Giants at BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Giants are tied with the Raiders for the league’s worst record at 2-13. Kansas City is down to its third-string quarterback after injuries to Patrick Mahomes and former Raider Gardner Minshew and has been eliminated from the playoff race. This is a far cry from the Chiefs championship teams of the past several seasons.
Should Las Vegas win both games, it could drop to seventh in the draft order. And, once again, not be in position to take the franchise quarterback the Raiders so badly need.
The Raiders might not be alone in hoping to land Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza if he's the first quarterback off the board as expected.
There are scenarios in which the Raiders split their final two games and still get the No. 1 pick, but those aren't likely outcomes.
Their best chance is to lose out, which won't happen if the team that showed up against Houston makes another appearance or two over the final couple of weekends of the regular season.
Coaches and players, of course, aren't wired to want to lose. The players showed on Sunday they are still playing hard for Pete Carroll, whose future with the franchise is in question. Getting the top pick means nothing to him if he's not around to make use of it.
Playing a competitive game against the Texans and showing improvement to close the season could be enough to convince owner Mark Davis to give Carroll another season.
“The intensity that we played at throughout carried over from special teams and defense and offense,” Carroll said. "That helps us in all ways, but I thought most of all, it was the intent of the guys to show who we are. I was really fired up about that part of it.”
DE Maxx Crosby's motor never stops running. He played every defensive snap for the fifth week in a row despite dealing with knee issues that have sidelined him in many practices in recent weeks. Crosby showed his athleticism and willingness to go full speed every play by chasing down Texans running back Nick Chubb, lunging to tackle him from behind.
QB Geno Smith is tied for the NFL lead with 15 interceptions, the latest a first-quarter pick that was returned for a touchdown and gave Houston a 7-0 lead. The Raiders didn't go away and had their chances to win, but they were forced to play from behind nearly right away. And in a close game, that play became even more magnified.
This was the game running back Ashton Jeanty has been waiting to produce. The sixth pick in this year's draft rushed for 128 yards and had a touchdown run of 51 yards and a TD catch of 60. He's the fourth rookie with a scoring run and catch of 50 or more yards in a game and the first since Denver's Clinton Portis in 2002 against the Chiefs.
The Raiders defense couldn't get off the field in the fourth quarter. They gave up two drives that each lasted more than five minutes, the first ending in a touchdown and the second running out the clock. Las Vegas had an issue with a third down pass interference penalty that extended the second drive for Houston, a call that Carroll on Monday called “lousy” and “devastating.”
T Kolton Miller (ankle) will practice again this week, but no determination has been made on whether he will play. The Raiders need him back because they lost their third starter on the line when C/G Jordan Meredith (ankle) was placed on injured reserve on Monday.
434-435-6 — That’s the Raiders’ record since the 1970 merger, the first time they have been below .500 since beginning that initial season 1-2-1.
The Raiders host the Giants on Sunday.
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Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) celebrate during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Two longtime Saints players in their mid-30s — who are not under contract for next season — are coming off memorable and emotional home finales that have ignited discussions about their NFL future.
Whether defensive end Cameron Jordan or versatile offensive skill player Taysom Hill return next season remains to be seen. But their effort and commitment during a difficult rebuilding season has drawn high praise from first-year coach Kellen Moore.
“Those guys are the best,” Moore said. “They are the ultimate lead-by-example guys."
Moore called their contributions to this non-playoff season “really, really special," adding, “These guys are playing really good football right now.”
Jordan, 36, and in his 15th NFL season — all with New Orleans — had two sacks during the Saints' 29-6 victory over the New York Jets, raising his team-leading total to 8 1/2.
The 35-year-old Hill, who came back from a major, 2024 knee injury, accounted for 116 total yards as a runner, passer and receiver — a performance highlighted by a game-sealing 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
Jordan and Hill both took time to salute the crowd on their way off the field and acknowledged that while playing for the Saints means a lot to them, they cannot be certain what their future holds.
Jordan, who has 130 career sacks, has hinted repeatedly that he's not ready to retire, tossing out names of other defensive ends who played into their late 30s, such as Julius Peppers (who played 17 seasons and retired at 39). But without a contract, he noted, it's hard to forecast whether or where he'll play in 2026.
At the very least, general manager Mickey Loomis felt compelled to walk into the Saints' locker room after Sunday's game, put an arm around Jordan's shoulder, and say a few private words that made the veteran pass rusher smile.
Hill didn't go into much detail about potentially retiring or playing elsewhere, but he did get emotional discussing how important the Saints organization has become to him since claiming him off waivers after the 2017 preseason.
When Hill's wife, Emily, asked him before Sunday's game whether he thought it might be his last as a Saint in the Superdome, he said he “didn’t really feel any type of way, but as I was driving to the stadium, you start to think about the last nine years and what it’s meant to me and my family.”
“So, for me personally, you just try to take it all in,” he added.
Moore isn't ready to discuss looming offseason decisions yet. After starting 1-7, the Saints (5-10) have a chance to finish with seven wins. The coach said on Monday he'd like the club's focus to remain squarely on the games to come.
“We've got two weeks left and this is all that we worry about,” Moore said. “We want to finish this thing off as well as we can for every single player. ... We're trying to create winning habits.”
New Orleans' pass coverage has been among the NFL's best, which might explain why Jets rookie QB Brady Cook looked indecisive and took eight sacks. After allowing the Jets 131 net yards passing, the Saints rank fifth in the NFL in yards passing allowed per game (177.3) and ninth in total defense (303.5).
The Saints' injury-ravaged running game could use more production. New Orleans finished with 84 yards rushing on Sunday and ranks 30th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 92.8 yards per game.
Receiver Chris Olave continued to build his case as one of the NFL's leading comeback players. He missed nine games last season, mostly because of a major concussion that cast uncertainty over his career. His 10 catches for 148 yards and two TDs against the Jets increased his season totals to 92 catches for 1,044 yards and eight TDs — all career highs.
“It was a tough time last year,” Olave said. “I was only 24 years old, contemplating retirement. ... I just gave it another try, another chance and it’s been a great year.”
Third-year NFL running back Evan Hull has seen the most action of his career in recent weeks with New Orleans because of injuries to Alvin Kamara and Devin Neal. But staying in the rotation might require more production. He gained 3 yards on five carries against the Jets.
Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (knee) and tight end Foster Moreau (ankle) both will likely be out for at least one game, Moore said. It remains unclear when Kamara (knee and ankle), who's missed the past four games, will return.
1 — The number of first-year coaches in Saints history to have a four-game winning streak. That was Jim Haslett, whose 2000 playoff team won six straight. Moore could become the second with a victory this weekend.
The Saints travel for their final two games, beginning at Tennessee this Sunday for a matchup between non-playoff teams that are coming off victories. New Orleans finishes the season at Atlanta.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore walks on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) holds on to the ball after a pass completion as New York Jets safety Dean Clark (35) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan greets fans after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
