Raiders in position for top draft pick after 34-10 loss to Giants

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Raiders' fate Sunday might have been sealed earlier in the week when management took three key players out of the lineup and placed them on injured reserve.

A major win came out of their 34-10 loss to the New York Giants — a clear shot at the top pick in next year's NFL draft.

Las Vegas (2-14) will secure the top pick with a loss next week to Kansas City, and quarterback Geno Smith is unlikely to play because of a high ankle sprain. The Raiders’ skid reached 10 games, which matches last season’s streak for fifth-longest in franchise history.

The Giants (3-13), who snapped a nine-game losing streak, could still wind up with the top pick if they lose to Dallas next weekend and the Raiders beat the Chiefs. Interim coach Mike Kafka got his first win after losing his first five, and the Giants had their largest margin of victory since defeating Indianapolis 38-10 in Week 17 of the 2022 season.

“The things we were playing for were each other,” Kafka said. “You get into a football locker room, it's a family. Sometimes you have to go through ups and downs, but you keep plugging away, keep on putting in the hard work and then you'll get the result that you want.”

Dart, taken by the Giants with the No. 25 pick in the 2025 draft, showed his dual-threat ability by passing for 207 yards and rushing for 48 yards and two touchdowns.

An NFL Network report said the Giants were keeping their options open for the draft even at quarterback.

“I know I'm going to be here for a very long time,” Dart said. “I'm just excited to start winning more games and turn this place around and do my job. We have a bright future.”

Wan’Dale Robinson caught 11 passes for 113 yards to become the first player 5-foot-8 or shorter to reach the 1,000-yard mark since 5-7 Richard Johnson in 1989. Robinson also is just the third since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, according to Sportradar.

“It means a lot,” Robinson said. “I've always been labeled a slight guy that can only do certain things and never hit certain numbers. So I wanted to prove really to myself that I can do everything out on the football field that I need to do.”

Linebacker Brian Burns recorded 1 1/2 sacks, giving him a career-high 16 1/2 for the season.

Smith, again booed in pregame introductions, passed for 176 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before leaving early in the fourth quarter with the ankle injury. Smith has a league-high 17 picks.

Kenny Pickett replaced him and completed both passes for 16 yards.

Smith's interception in the first quarter set the tone, a red-zone pick by linebacker Bobby Okereke that was returned 48 yards to set up a Giants touchdown and 7-0 lead. That was just New York's seventh interception this season.

The rebuilding Raiders were without a number of notable players, giving embattled coach Pete Carroll nearly a shell of a lineup. Las Vegas went from a 1 1/2-point favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook to a 3-point underdog after defensive end Maxx Crosby (knee), tight end Brock Bowers (knee) and safety Jeremy Chinn (back) were placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Crosby, one of the league's top pass rushers, initially was sidelined just for this game. That decision so upset him that he left the Raiders' facility on Friday. He told reporters earlier in the week that trying to win was more important than securing the top draft pick.

“That’s what we look like without those guys playing,” Carroll said. "Unfortunately, they’re that valuable to us. Everybody tried, everybody did everything they could and all that just wasn’t enough.”

As for his future with the organization, Carroll said he believed he had management's backing.

“What does that mean? I don't know," Carroll said. ”But our conversations have been really good."

But now the Raiders could be in position to draft a potentially franchise-changing quarterback and end more than two decades of playoff futility.

The Giants have their own issues, but hope Dart is worth rebuilding around. The person who coaches Dart next season is a major question.

This is the fourth time the teams with the two outright worst records have met in the final two weeks, according to Sportradar. The previous time occurred in 1981 between the 1-14 Baltimore Colts and 2-13 New England Patriots.

Giants: CB Cor’Dale Flott (knee) did not play. ... S Jevón Holland (knee) was injured in the third quarter.

Raiders: WR Jack Bech (back), RB Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee) and G Dylan Parham (illness) did not play. ... DT Adam Butler (bicep) was injured in the second quarter. ... G Dylan Parham (illness) left in the first half.

Giants: Host Dallas next weekend.

Raiders: Host Kansas City next weekend.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) celebrates his interception with cornerback Deonte Banks (2) and linebacker Darius Muasau (53) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) tackles New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) reacts to a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nikita Kucherov scored twice, Gage Goncalves added two assists and had the deciding goal in the shootout as the Tampa Bay Lightning held off the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 on Sunday.

Oliver Bjorkstrand had two assists for Tampa Bay. Nick Paul and Pontus Holmberg also scored for the Lightning, who won their fourth straight game. Jonas Johansson stopped 32 shots and both attempts in the shootout.

Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice, including the tying goal with 3.8 seconds left, and added an assist as Montreal rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 in the third period to secure a point. Noah Dobson had a goal and an assist, and Ivan Demidov also scored for the Canadiens. Jacob Fowler finished with 18 saves for Montreal, which played its first game coming out of the Christmas break.

Kucherov scored two of Tampa Bay’s three goals in the second period.

Goncalves fed Kucherov for a breakaway goal at 2:28 of the second. Kucherov scored again at 12:11 when Goncalves missed a 2-on-1 chance wide, but Brayden Point picked up the rebound and quickly fed Kucherov above the crease.

Paul made it 3-0 at 14:49.

Demidov broke up Johansson’s shutout bid 1:06 into the third period, poking in a Slafkovsky pass above the paint. But Holmberg answered 34 seconds later, deflecting a Bjorkstrand pass to score in his fourth consecutive game. Montreal then scored three times in the final 10:44 of the third.

Slafkovsky started the comeback at 9:16 before and Dobson scored at 12:17 to make it a one-goal game.

Earlier Sunday, Tampa Bay activated Brandon Hagel from injured reserve after missing four games and placed defenseman Ryan McDonagh on injured reserve, three games after he returned from an 18-game absence.

Up next

Canadiens: At Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

Lightning: At Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (32) stops a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during overtime in an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Montréal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) reacts after Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson (31) makes a save during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) plays the puck in front of Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Montréal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) prepares to score after getting around Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) scores past Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (32) during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)