Lack of third-down conversions, lapses on special teams and committed turnovers were too much for Las Vegas Raiders to overcome, falling 34-10 to the New York Giants for their 10th consecutive loss.
The issues that plagued the Raiders throughout the game have been persistent throughout their 2025 season. They were outmatched at the line of scrimmage as the Giants went 3-of-5 in the red zone and outgained them by 112 yards.
It also didn't help Las Vegas was without Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Jack Bech and Jeremy Chinn. All were either placed on the injured reserve list last week or ruled inactive before kickoff. Additionally, Dylan Parham was sidelined due to illness.
"We missed our guys.," Pete Carroll said postgame. "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."
To start the game, a healthy connection between Geno Smith and Tre Tucker of three catches for 36 yards helped march the Raiders down to the red zone on their second possession. But things quickly went awry, as Smith threw his 16th interception of the year, caught by linebacker Bobby Okereke, who spun off intended target Michael Mayer to return the pick for 47 yards.
Already in good field position, Giants running back Devin Singletary rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown on the last two plays of the first quarter.
The Raiders offense rebounded by getting the ball in the hands of Ashton Jeanty. The running back accounted for 18 scrimmage yards before a split sack by Brian Burns and Abdul Carter forced the Raiders to settle for a 42-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson to cut the lead to 7-3.
New York continued to efficiently pair their rushing and passing attack together, recording 136 total yards on their next two drives. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart picked up his eighth rushing touchdown on a keeper for 12 yards up the middle, followed by a 32-yard field goal from Ben Sauls to make it 17-3 heading into halftime.
After two quarters, receiver Wan'Dale Robinson had already accumulated nine catches for 97 yards with the Giants averaging 6.3 yards a carry.
The second half opened up with Smith once again getting sacked by Burns on third down. The Raiders ultimately finished 3-of-13 on third down.
The Giants continued to move the ball down the field with ease before getting stopped at the goal line once again with a cornerback blitz from rookie Greedy Vance that forced an errant throw to the end zone. Another field goal made by Sauls gave New York a 20-3 lead with more than seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Desperate for a score, the offense converted three times on fourth down en route to the end zone. The three fourth-down conversions came from a 19-yard pass to Michael Mayer, a seven-yard run on the throw to Dont'e Thornton Jr. and a four-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett.
While it was Lockett's first touchdown this season, it was his 17th career touchdown pass from Smith dating back to their six seasons as teammates with the Seattle Seahawks.
Seemingly, the lone bright spots were Lockett's touchdown grab and Michael Mayer filling in for an injured Bowers. The third-year tight end finished with a career-high nine catches for 89 yards.
"I haven't been able to do that in awhile," Mayer said. "It really did feel really good. ... I know we didn't win the game, but to be able to do that and be able to really give myself some confidence like that – whether it's the first game of the season or the second to last game of the season – it feels really good."
Immediately following Lockett's touchdown, the Raiders' glimmer of hope faded unimaginably quick.
Cornerback Deonte Banks returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to the end zone, making it the Raiders' third touchdown allowed on special teams this season (two punt return and one kick return). It was also their first kickoff return touchdown allowed since the 2021 season.
Shortly after, Smith threw his second interception of the afternoon and also suffered an ankle injury on the play in pursuit of tackling safety Dane Belton on the return. As a result of the turnover, the Giants went 75 yards down the field where Dart put an exclamation point on his performance with a second rushing touchdown in the red zone on fourth down.
The Giants rookie quarterback went 22-of-30 for 207 yards along with his two scores on the ground.
The Raiders, who face the Kansas City Chiefs in the season finale next week, are unsure if Smith will be back under center.
"Geno has a high ankle sprain. ... That's pretty hard to bounce back," Carroll said postgame. "That might knock him out of next week, we'll have to wait and see."
View photos from the Raiders' Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) and quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) and defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Greedy Vance (41) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Decamerion Richardson (25) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders offense huddle during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes (22) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) lines up before kicking a 42-yard field goal during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) kicks a 42-yard field goal during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9), linebacker Devin White (45) and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter (26) and linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Greedy Vance (41) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders offense during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) makes a 4-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) makes a 4-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Atonio Mafi (56) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Caleb Rogers (76) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) and defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter (26) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Atonio Mafi (56) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) and guard Caleb Rogers (76) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (4) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
