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10 Things To Watch For

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10 things to watch in Giants vs. Raiders

KAFKA-CARROLL-10-THINGS

FINAL ROAD TRIP

The Giants will hit the road for the last time during the 2025 campaign this weekend when they fly across the country to take on the Raiders in Las Vegas. Sunday's game will be the team's ninth and final opportunity to pick up a victory away from MetLife Stadium. After that, the Giants will close out the season at home against the Cowboys.

In the second of back-to-back home games last week, the Giants struggled to get going against a tough Vikings defense, finishing with 13 points and a season-low 141 total yards of offense. While the defense put together one of its top performances of the season, limiting the Minnesota offense to just 16 points and 240 yards of offense, it wasn't enough as the Giants dropped their ninth consecutive game, 16-13.

On the other sideline, the Raiders have endured a similarly tough season. Pete Carroll's squad almost pulled off the upset in Houston last week, losing to the Texans 23-21. It was Las Vegas' ninth consecutive loss as they dropped to 2-13 on the season.

According to NFL Research, Sunday's game is just the third in NFL history between two teams at least 11 games under .500. Heading into this matchup, the Giants currently hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while the Raiders are right behind them in the No. 2 slot.

"Really the only messaging today was just focusing on today and the corrections from yesterday's game," interim head coach Mike Kafka told the media Monday. "How we can stay consistent, how we can be more detailed. Then really the main message was, let's not leave the building today without getting some of those things corrected so that we can move forward, turn the page, and put together our best game plan and effort versus the Raiders."

ALL-TIME SERIES

The New York Giants (2-13) will travel to Allegiant Stadium to face the Las Vegas Raiders (2-13), on Sunday, December 28. Kickoff is set for 4:05 pm ET on CBS.

Sunday's game marks the 16th all-time meeting between the teams; they have never met in the postseason.

The Giants' most recent victory over the Raiders came in the 2023 season, by a score of 23-16, in MetLife Stadium.

See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 17 matchup against the Raiders.

INJURY REPORT

Giants

Out: WR Beaux Collins (Neck/Concussion), DL D.J. Davidson (Neck/Concussion), G Evan Neal (Neck), S Tyler Nubin (Neck), OT Andrew Thomas (Hamstring)

Doubtful: C John Michael Schmitz (Finger)

Questionable: OL Joshua Ezeudu (Calf), CB Cor'Dale Flott (Knee), DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (Ankle/Toe)

Raiders

The final injury report will be released Friday afternoon.

HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN & STREAM

TV

Channel: CBS

Announcers: Kevin Harlan (Play-By-Play), Trent Green (Analyst), Melanie Collins (Sideline)

Postgame: Giants Postgame Live presented by Hackensack Meridian Health

MSG Networks, The Gotham Sports App, YouTube, Giants.com, Giants App, Giants TV

Radio

Channel: WFAN 101.9PM / 66 AM

Announcers: Bob Papa (Play-by-Play), Carl Banks (Analyst), Howard Cross (Sideline)

Pre- and Postgame: John Schmeelk, Tiki Barber

Pregame: Giants Gameday begins at 11:00 AM, presented by Hackensack Meridian Health.

Postgame: Giants Extra Point

Stream

This week's game can be streamed on NFL+.

JAXSON LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK

For essentially the first time in his rookie campaign, Jaxson Dart had a rough outing last week against the Vikings. Dart attempted just 13 pass attempts, of which he completed seven for 33 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. The attempts, completions and yards were all season-lows for the rookie quarterback -- by a wide margin. He ran the ball only twice for seven yards and got sacked five times as he went up against one of the NFL's top defensive play-callers in Brian Flores. With that being said, Mike Kafka is confident the 22-year-old will learn and grow from last week's struggles.

"I knew exactly how he would respond, like he would respond to anything," Kafka said about the rookie bouncing back from last week's performance. "The highs, the lows, he would respond the same way, with great attention to detail, urgency to get better. And so Jaxson's had that approach, our whole offense has had that approach, and he's the leader of the ship, and they're going to follow his direction and the leaders that we have on offense."

Dart is faced with an easier matchup this week as the Raiders pass defense ranks middle of the pack this year. Las Vegas has allowed the 17th-most passing yards and 13th-most passing touchdowns on the season, but has held each of its last five opponents to under 210 net passing yards. Talking to the media on Wednesday, Dart expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back this weekend.

"You look back at the tape, look at the things that you can correct," the rookie QB said about last week's game. "At the same time, I know the kind of player I am. I'm going to bounce back. I think everybody in their careers is going to have a game that they're unhappy about. But I've done some really good things too and I know that my work ethic and my ability to perform, I don't doubt that at all. I'm excited to have that opportunity and play close to home."

INJURIES ALONG O-LINE

One of the biggest positives to come out of the 2025 season has been the performance of the offensive line. For most of the campaign, the Giants have been able to trot out the same five starters up front. The continuity of the group produced consistent results week in and week out, with the Giants' O-line even being ranked in the top 10 of Pro Football Focus' offensive line rankings for multiple weeks.

Unfortunately for the Giants, the group could be without two of its starters this week. Left tackle Andrew Thomas suffered a hamstring injury during last week's loss, as the star tackle departed Week 16 early and was unable to return against the Vikings. Thomas once again did not participate in practice on Friday and was later ruled out for Week 17.

Center John Michael Schmitz was also forced out of last week's game early due to a finger injury. The third-year center has taken a step in the right direction this season. In 13 starts, Schmitz is credited with just one sack and 14 total pressures allowed, according to Pro Football Focus, both of which are well-below his previous career-best marks. After being listed as a non-participant on the first two injury reports of the week, the 26-year-old was able to get back on the practice field Friday as a limited participant. However, he was listed as doubtful on the final injury report.

With Thomas ruled out and Schmitz listed as doubtful, it will be next man up for the O-line. Rookie Marcus Mbow will get the start at left tackle, according to Kafka, where he has played 125 snaps this season, all at the beginning of the year while Thomas worked his way back from last year's foot injury. Meanwhile, if Schmitz can't go, Austin Schlottmann would start his third game of the season at center, where he has performed well in limited action. Schlottmann has surrendered zero sacks and just two total pressures across 130 pass block snaps this year.

"He's had a couple starts already and he's done a really nice job," Kafka said about Mbow. "And just stepping in, he's always dialed into his opportunities and the game plan. So, I expect nothing different if he has to step up."

PLAYER TO WATCH

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. – In his last four full games, Tracy has finished with no fewer than 71 total yards of offense, including two outings with 130+ yards of offense. The second-year back has quietly put together another solid season with 575 yards on the ground with two touchdowns along with 27 receptions for 237 yards and an additional score. Tracy is averaging 4.0 yards per carry on the year, and he faces a matchup this weekend against a Raiders defense that ranks fourth in the league with an average of 3.8 yards per carry allowed.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

RT Jermaine Eluemunor vs. DE Maxx Crosby – Eluemunor has been solid at right tackle this season, but the veteran tackle will be faced with perhaps his toughest matchup of the season this weekend. Crosby is the heart and soul of the Raiders defense. His 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits are significantly higher than anyone else on the defense, leading to Crosby being named to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl. Eluemunor will have his hands full on Sunday trying to slow down Crosby.

RAIDER TO WATCH

TE Michael Mayer – The Raiders made some headlines earlier in the week when they placed second-year tight end Brock Bowers on injured reserve, ending his season two weeks early. This move paves the way for Mayer to play a big role in Las Vegas' offense on Sunday. Mayer has served as the Raiders' No. 2 tight end for most of the season, but his best game came in Week 6 when Bowers was sidelined. In that game, Mayer caught five of seven targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. Geno Smith likes to target his tight ends, which means Mayer could be in for a busy day on Sunday.

STAT TO KNOW

The Giants and Raiders enter Sunday with matching nine-game losing streaks and 2-13 overall records. According to NFL Research, this is the third game in NFL history between two teams at least 11 games under .500. To take it one step further, Sunday's game represents the first matchup in NFL history with two teams both riding single-season losing streaks of at least nine games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

View rare photos of the history between the Giants and Raiders.

Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 3.36.49 PM

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