Week 17 of the NFL regular season features high-stakes matchups involving teams jockeying for playoff position. Saturday’s double-header alone features three teams in playoff position already (Houston, Green Bay and the Los Angeles Chargers) and one trying to win its division (Baltimore).
There’s another important matchup this week with implications on the other end of team success. The 2-13 New York Giants and 2-13 Las Vegas Raiders face off in a game that could determine who holds the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
And one of the best players from those teams won’t be suiting up.
Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby will not be playing for Las Vegas due to a nagging knee injury, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Crosby was upset about that decision and left the team building after learning he wouldn’t be playing against the Giants, per FOX’s Jay Glazer.
Crosby was asked earlier about the No. 1 pick in the draft being in play for this week’s game and was honest.
‘I don’t give a (expletive) about the pick, I don’t play for that,’ Crosby said. ‘That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that’s what I focus on every day. And being a great leader and being an influence and being that guy on a consistent basis for my team.
‘That’s their job, the front office, the coaches, they do that, but that’s got nothing to do with me. I’ve learned my lesson in the past, you can’t control everything and that’s not my job description. My job is to be the best in the world at what I do.’
The Raiders and Giants are the lone two-win teams left in the NFL. Whichever team loses has a one-game lead over the rest of the league for the top pick which may all but clinch it ahead of Week 18.
Despite their record, the Raiders’ defense hasn’t been the weak part of the team. Instead, it’s the last-ranked offense in both points and yards. Securing the top pick would guarantee Las Vegas has its choice from the top quarterbacks in the 2026 draft class.
Maxx Crosby stats
Crosby’s had a solid season in 2025 after missing games for the first time in 2024. He notched his first career interception in Week 4 against the Chicago Bearsin addition to his usual production as a pass rusher.
Tackles: 73
Tackles for loss: 28
Sacks: 10
Quarterback hits: 20
Passes defensed: 6
Interceptions: 1
Forced fumbles: 2
2026 NFL Draft order
Here’s a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon:
New York Giants: 2-13 record; .531 strength of schedule
Las Vegas Raiders: 2-13; .543 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-12, .492 SOS
New York Jets: 3-12, .539 SOS
Tennessee Titans: 3-12, .573 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 3-12; .576 SOS
Washington Commanders: 4-12; .504 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 5-10; .498 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 5-10; .516 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 6-10; .513 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 6-9; .490 SOS
Atlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 6-9; .502 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 7-8; .504 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-8, .529 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 7-8-1; .438 SOS
Detroit Lions: 8-8; .496 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 8-8; .515 SOS
Indianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-7; .537 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 8-7, .518 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-6; .504 SOS
Green Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 9-5-1; .476 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 10-5; .473 SOS
Houston Texans: 10-5; .537 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 11-4, .463 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 11-4; .457 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 11-4, .494 SOS
Jacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 11-4; .494 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 11-4, .529 SOS
Chicago Bears: 11-4; .445 SOS
New England Patriots: 12-3; .380 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 12-3; .502 SOS
Denver Broncos: 13-3; .429 SOS