Raiders' Strategic Shutdown or Pure Dysfunction?
The Las Vegas Raiders have ignited a fierce debate about the fine line between strategic planning and outright incompetence after a humiliating 34-10 defeat by the New York Giants. The controversy stems from the team's decision to place their two bona fide stars, tight end Brock Bowers and defensive end Maxx Crosby, on injured reserve ahead of the final two games of the season.
Both players were battling nagging knee issues, but the timing—with the 2-14 Raiders locked in a battle for the top draft pick with the similarly struggling Giants—raised immediate eyebrows. Bowers, who had scored four touchdowns in the previous five weeks, departed quietly. Crosby, a defensive powerhouse with 28 tackles for loss this season, did not.
Crosby's Public Rebuke and a 'Tank Bowl' Spectacle
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, a clear message suggesting his fitness to play. Earlier in the week, Crosby had left no doubt about his feelings towards the so-called 'Tank Bowl' or 'Toilet Bowl' narrative surrounding the Giants game.
"I don't give a fuck about the pick, I don't play for that," Crosby stated. "My job is to be the best defensive end in the world." His public discontent shattered any facade of organisational unity, highlighting a stark divide between player ethos and front-office strategy.
On the field, the Raiders' performance did little to dispel the tanking theories. The offensive line was overwhelmed, special teams were caught napping on a 95-yard Giants kickoff return, and quarterback Geno Smith threw two interceptions. The defence, missing its heart and soul in Crosby, was routinely outmanoeuvred by Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
A Legacy of Problems Beyond One Game
However, labelling the Raiders simply as 'tanking' may be an oversimplification of a deeper malaise. This is a team mired in a 10-game losing streak, with only two victories all season. The coaching under Pete Carroll has been criticised as uninspired, and the roster, beyond Bowers and Crosby, is glaringly short on elite talent.
The botched handling of the Crosby situation exemplifies the franchise's struggles. Competent organisations manage such sensitive discussions privately. The Raiders' public misstep now risks alienating their best player, with many speculating Crosby could demand a trade in the offseason.
The result of the Giants game secured pole position for the Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. Whether this was by calculated design or the culmination of chronic dysfunction is the question haunting Las Vegas. For fans and Crosby alike, the distinction may feel meaningless after such a demoralising campaign.
Around the NFL: Maye's Masterclass and Playoff Drama
While the Raiders faltered, the New England Patriots and rookie quarterback Drake Maye delivered a statement performance. In a crucial game against the New York Jets, Maye was near-perfect, completing 90% of his passes for 256 yards and five touchdowns to five different receivers.
This historic stat line made Maye the first NFL quarterback ever to throw for over 250 yards with a 90% completion rate and five touchdowns in a single game. The victory, coupled with a Buffalo Bills loss, clinched the AFC East for the Patriots and fuelled early MVP chatter for the 23-year-old phenom.
That Bills loss was a heartbreaker. Trailing the Philadelphia Eagles 13-12 in the final moments, Josh Allen scored on a 'tush push' quarterback sneak—a play his own team voted to ban in the offseason. Coach Sean McDermott opted to go for a two-point conversion to win the game, but Allen's pass under pressure fell incomplete, handing the Eagles a narrow win and the AFC East to the Patriots.
In the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers' woes in Cleveland continued, falling 13-6 to the Browns. The Steelers remain winless in Cleveland since 2003 with any quarterback not named Ben Roethlisberger. Aaron Rodgers could not break the curse, struggling without suspended receiver DK Metcalf. The loss sets up a winner-takes-all Week 18 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens for the division title.
Elsewhere, the Houston Texans won their eighth straight game to clinch a playoff berth, the Seattle Seahawks stayed atop the NFC with a dominant defensive display against Carolina, and the Jacksonville Jaguars notched their 12th win, looking like a formidable playoff opponent.
