The Giants lose a heartbreaker, but gain draft position
The New York Giants currently hold the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft following their Week 14 loss, per Tankathon.
The Giants suffered their eighth straight loss in heartbreaking fashion, as the New Orleans Saints blocked a last-second field goal which would have sent the game to overtime. The loss drops the Giants to 2-11 on the season, but it boosts their draft position.
The Giants slipped to third overall following their Week 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however a 10-6 win by the Jacksonville Jaguars over the Tennessee Titans one Sunday leaves the Giants as one of two remaining two-win teams.
The Las Vegas Raiders fell to 2-11 as well following their own loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Current top 10
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
- New York Giants (2-11)
- New England Patriots (3-10)
- Carolina Panthers (3-10)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10)
- Tennessee Titans (3-10)
- New York Jets (3-10)
- Cleveland Browns (3-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
- Chicago Bears (4-8)
Per Tankathon, the Giants are currently behind the Raiders in the draft order due to the strength of schedule tiebreaker. The Giants have a 0.544 strength of schedule, compared the Raiders’ 0.535. The Giants’ strength of schedule is the fourth-highest in the NFL, with only the Chicago Bears, San Francsico 49ers, and Green Bay Packers having tougher schedules.
While a win over the Saints would have broken the team’s home losing streak and given fans in attendance something to cheer for, it also could have dropped the Giants down to 8th overall. The Raiders and Jaguars will play each other in Week 16, and a win by the Raiders could put the Giants in position for the first overall pick.
The Titans, who could also threaten for the top of the draft, will also play the Jaguars, as well as the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals.
The Giants’ gritty play against the Saints suggests that their depth is better than anticipated, and their strength of schedule suggests that they could rebound significantly with a last-place schedule next year. The silver lining to a loss is that it could result in the Giants solving their quarterback problem, as well as adding more talent to their roster.
At this point, putting themselves in position to be consistently competitive in 2025 and beyond might be the biggest win in a lost season.
