3 takeaways from Giants vs. Raiders in NFL Week 17
Brian Burns #0 of the New York Giants sacks Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the third quarter of the game at Allegiant Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025. Credit: Getty Images/Candice Ward
LAS VEGAS — The Giants snapped their nine-game losing streak by beating the Raiders, 34-10. Here are three takeaways from a happy locker room at Allegiant Stadium:
1. Deonte Banks’ future might be on special teams
Banks lost his starting cornerback job this season and still was a liability on the field. According to the NFL, he had allowed a 136.3 passer rating in coverage entering Sunday, the second highest among cornerbacks with at least 20 targets. With Cor’Dale Flott inactive, Banks was exploited again when he lost track of Tyler Lockett as he got open for a 4-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith.
On the ensuing kickoff, however, Banks atoned with a 95-yard touchdown.
“For him to learn a new position in the offseason, we asked him to do something that he really wasn’t comfortable with to start and [he] just kept on getting better and better and better,” interim coach Mike Kafka said.
Perhaps special teams is his best role going forward. Banks hurts the Giants when teams target him and he fails to track the ball. But his elite speed is a gift, and entering his contract year in 2026, mastering return duties might help him find a role.
2. Wan’Dale Robinson and Brian Burns reached milestones
Wan’Dale Robinson’s career year reached a new height as he crossed 1,000 receiving yards for the season.
It made him the first receiver listed at 5-8 or shorter to hit 1,000 yards since Richard Johnson did it for the Lions in 1989, according to The Associated Press.
“A lot of hard work went into this and always being told, nobody would think that I would get that mark,” said Robinson, whose 92 catches are one shy of his career high set last year. “So it feels really good. Just all the hard work that I put in this offseason.”
Robinson, who is at 1,014 yards with one game remaining, had nine catches for 97 yards in the first half and finished with 11 for 113 yards. He helped his case entering free agency.
As for Brian Burns? The Pro Bowl linebacker has 16 1⁄2 sacks, tied with Jason Pierre-Paul for fourth most in a Giants season. It’s another notch in a career year in which Burns is establishing himself among the game’s top pass rushers.
3. So where are the Giants in the draft order now?
The Giants’ win hurt their odds for the No. 1 pick. If the Raiders lose to Kansas City in their final game, they’ll claim it outright.
However, the Giants are still in the running for the No. 1 pick. If they lose to Dallas on Sunday and the Raiders win to create a tie at 3-14, the Giants will get the No. 1 pick because they have a weaker strength of schedule.
If both teams lose, the Giants will pick second because of a weaker strength of schedule than the Titans, Jets and Cardinals, who also are 3-13.
If the Giants win Sunday and move to 4-13, they’ll pick no worse than seventh if the 4-12 Commanders and Browns lose because both have a weaker strength of schedule.
Sure, the Giants can’t control their fate. But they’ll still wind up with a high draft pick for their troubles this season, and that matters as they try to improve upon their 6-27 record the last two seasons.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
