Giants end nine-game losing streak by dominating Raiders
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart runs toward the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/David Becker
LAS VEGAS — In a city in which gambling is second nature, the Giants’ luck finally turned around Sunday.
In a game in which the Giants and Raiders entered tied with the NFL’s worst record at 2-13, the Giants broke free with a 34-10 win.
After scoring his second rushing touchdown with 3:40 left, Jaxson Dart blew a kiss to the crowd at Allegiant Stadium and shook his head. The rookie quarterback usually does that during pregame introductions at home. This time, it kissed goodbye the Giants’ nine-game losing streak and a 13-game road losing streak dating to last season.
It also might have kissed goodbye to the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, although the Giants (3-13) are still in play for it entering next week’s season finale against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. But that was secondary to tasting victory for the first time since Oct. 9 and the fourth time in their last 28 games.
“Way too long, definitely way too long,” Dart said after exhaling. “We gotta start doing this more because it definitely feels a lot better.”
Few expected positive vibes from this game. For the first time in NFL history, two teams met with matching nine-game losing streaks. The loser would inch closer to the No. 1 pick and the winner would disappoint many of its fans.
The Giants were in this situation last year entering Week 17, and for the second straight year, they spoiled a slide to the top of the draft, at least for now.
Then again, interim coach Mike Kafka earned his first win after losing his first five games.
“You get into a football locker room, it’s a family,” he said. “Sometimes you have to go through the ups and downs but you understand you keep on plugging away, keep on putting in the hard work and then you’ll get the result you want.”
After throwing for a career-worst 33 yards last week against Minnesota, Dart was 22-for-30 for 207 yards against the Raiders. He added 48 yards on nine carries, scored on runs of 12 and 2 yards and looked much more comfortable running the ball.
The Giants called more designed runs and Dart ran with both confidence and smarts. He ended a 17-yard run in the second quarter by going out of bounds.
Dart broke the franchise record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with nine, passing Daniel Jones’ seven in 2022.
“I think that I’m a player that can do a lot of different things throwing the ball,'' he said. "I think I’m a smart player . . . use my legs as an advantage, so [it] just felt good to be back out there and in a rhythm.''
The defense had four sacks and got interceptions from Bobby Okereke and Dane Belton that led to 14 points. Okereke’s interception set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary that gave the Giants a 7-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter. They never trailed after that. Belton’s interception led to Dart's second touchdown.
Even the much-maligned Deonte Banks had a positive impact. Banks, who started at cornerback with Cor’Dale Flott a late scratch, had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter and was mobbed by teammates in the end zone.
That touchdown came one play after Banks was on the hook for allowing Tyler Lockett to escape for a 4-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith.
“Tae is an unbelievable athlete, great player,” Brian Burns said. “It’s just great that so many guys shared that joyful moment with him when he returned it.”
Wan’Dale Robinson had his third 100-yard game this season with 11 catches for 113 yards. It put him over 1,000 yards for the first time in his four seasons. According to The Associated Press, he’s the first receiver listed at 5-8 or shorter with a 1,000-yard season since the Lions’ Richard Johnson in 1989. He had nine catches for 97 yards in the first half.
Burns added 1 1/2 sacks to increase his total to 16 1/2 this season. He split his first sack with rookie Abdul Carter, who has 3 1/2 in his last four games. Rookie Darius Alexander also had a sack.
The Raiders (2-14) lost their 10th straight game, the NFL’s longest active streak. Smith suffered what coach Pete Carroll called a high ankle sprain during Belton’s interception return and Kenny Pickett finished the game.
The Raiders will host Kansas City in their finale, and if they win and the Giants lose to Dallas, the Giants will get the top pick because they have a weaker strength of schedule.
It didn’t matter to them Sunday. After 80 days, the Giants were glad to taste victory and leave Las Vegas happier that good fortune, for once, was on their side.
“It feels damn good,” said Burns, his voice hoarse. “It feels damn good just being on the winning side of things.”
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.
