Heading into Week 17, there was a lot of interest in the matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants. The loser would have control of the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Both teams have been dreadful this season, but the Raiders proved that they were the worst team in the NFL with a 34-10 loss. Before the game, the Raiders made the decision to shut down tight end Brock Bowers, starting safety Jeremy Chinn and star defensive end Maxx Crosby for the rest of the season.
This led to many accusations that the Raiders were purposely tanking in an effort to get the No. 1 pick. Based on how the team played against the Giants, the noise only got louder.
However, players on the team vehemently disagree with that notion. According to starting cornerback Eric Stokes, the Raiders are still fighting hard to win games.
“If y’all are trying to tank, don’t throw it my way then,” Stokes told ESPN. “The same thing Maxx said, I’m trying to be the best person I can be. If anybody is trying to tank, y’all might as well take me out, too.”
Jonah Laulu Agrees With Stokes
No player or team is going to admit that they’re tanking, as it’s against NFL rules. The Raiders are just that bad a team right now.
Defensive tackle Jonah Laulu is frustrated that people think the players are tanking. He doesn’t have a long-term contract and is still hoping to get a chance to play with the Raiders again next season.
“I hate that’s what people are saying or thinking,” Laulu said. “We’re not trying to lose. I’m trying to go out and do my best because I don’t know if I’m going to be here next year.”
Raiders Don’t Know How to Win
While the tanking word gets thrown around a lot, players and coaches rarely ever actually participate. The truth is that the Raiders are just really bad at playing football.
Yes, Bowers, Chinn and Crosby possibly could’ve played the final two games, but why would they risk injuring important players in meaningless games? That said, those losses did put the Raiders at a disadvantage. Head coach Pete Carroll just doesn’t think his team knows how to win right now.
“We missed our guys,” Carroll said after Sunday’s loss. “Shoot. Maxx is pretty good, you know, and he carries a lot of weight. Brock, same. Chinn, same. All those guys were hurt. They were hurt. I know the stories go otherwise, but they were hurt. Unfortunate.”
“We just haven’t found our wins,” he added. “We haven’t found a way to win.”
It’s concerning that a coach with Carroll’s track record can’t teach his team to win, but that’s where the Raiders are at right now. It remains to be seen if he’ll get another chance at turning things around next year.
Regardless, the Raiders have to make a lot of big decisions this offseason, as the future of the franchise is as bleak as ever unless they keep and nail the No. 1 draft pick.
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