The Las Vegas Raiders have plunged headfirst into a storm of controversy, accused of blatantly tanking for a top draft pick after a humiliating 34-10 defeat to the New York Giants. The furore stems from the team's decision to place their two star players, tight end Brock Bowers and defensive end Maxx Crosby, on injured reserve for the final two games of the season.
A Conspiracy Fuelled by Absence
The move, ostensibly due to nagging knee injuries, raised immediate eyebrows. Both Bowers, who had scored four touchdowns in the previous five games, and Crosby, a defensive powerhouse with 28 tackles for loss this season, were recently named to the Pro Bowl. The timing, with the 2-14 Raiders locked in a battle for the number one draft pick against the equally poor Giants, was conspicuous.
The situation escalated when a visibly furious Maxx Crosby left the team facility on Friday. The next day, he posted videos of himself playing basketball with his daughter, seemingly contradicting the severity of his injury. Earlier in the week, Crosby had made his competitive stance brutally clear, telling reporters, "I don't give a fuck about the pick, I don't play for that."
A Performance of Ineptitude
On the field, the Raiders' performance did little to dispel the tanking theories. Without their stars, they were comprehensively outplayed by the Giants. The offensive line was porous, special teams were asleep on a crucial 95-yard kickoff return touchdown, and quarterback Geno Smith threw two interceptions.
The defence, missing Crosby's ferocious leadership, was ineffective against Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. The result was a comprehensive defeat that handed Las Vegas pole position for the top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, a 'victory' that only served to fuel the conspiracy flames.
Tanking or Just Terrible?
The core issue for the Raiders is that the line between strategic tanking and sheer incompetence has become irredeemably blurred. This is a franchise on a 10-game losing streak, with a roster devoid of talent beyond its two now-sidelined stars. The coaching under Pete Carroll has been labelled uninspired, and recent personnel decisions, like drafting running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round, have failed to address glaring weaknesses.
Most damagingly, the organisation has publicly alienated its heart and soul in Maxx Crosby. Competent franchises manage these sensitive discussions privately. The Raiders' failure to do so has sparked legitimate speculation that Crosby could demand a trade in the offseason, creating yet another gaping hole in a faltering squad.
Elsewhere in the NFL: Patriots' Maye Shines, Eagles Edge Bills
While the Raiders floundered, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye delivered a performance for the ages. In a dominant win over the New York Jets, Maye completed a remarkable 90% of his passes for 256 yards and five touchdowns to five different receivers. This stat line made him the first player in NFL history to achieve over 250 yards, a 90% completion rate, and five touchdowns in a single game.
In a nail-biting finish, the Philadelphia Eagles held on to defeat the Buffalo Bills 13-12. The Bills, who had voted to ban the 'tush push' play in the offseason, used it to score a late touchdown to pull within one point. Coach Sean McDermott then controversially went for a two-point conversion to win the game, but Josh Allen's pass fell incomplete under heavy pressure.
The result handed the AFC East title to the New England Patriots. In the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers' long winless streak in Cleveland continued with a 13-6 loss, setting up a decisive Week 18 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens for the division crown.
