After the dust settled from week 17, the New York Giants’ draft position changed as they currently have the fourth-overall pick. After an unexpected 45-33 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at home, the Giants lost having the number one pick. However, there is still a chance for them to get it back with one game remaining in the season.
Drew Lock threw for 309 yards, four passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown. Malik Nabers had two touchdowns, while Wandale Robinson and Darius Slayton each found the end zone once. Lock had a quarterback rating of 155.3 while managing not to get sacked once.
I don’t think anyone expected the Giants to score 45 points in their last home game of the season. Suddenly, their offense blew up, scoring five touchdowns and a special teams touchdown. Where did this come from, Giants fans wondered, and why now?
Giants’ 45-33 Win vs. Colts Changes Draft Position
What Has to Happen for the New York Giants to Reclaim the No. 1 Pick
So, what does this win mean for their draft positioning as we head into the final week of the regular season? It will be a week of chaos leading up to the final weekend of games in the regular season. The Giants draft pick can vary from as low as a first overall pick to as high as the ninth overall pick. Right now, the Giants have three wins, and they lose out on the strength of schedule tiebreaker with fellow 3–13 teams in the New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns.
For the Giants to land the No.1 pick, here’s what has to happen: The Giants need to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the remaining three teams ahead of them in the draft order have to win their games. The Patriots play the Buffalo Bills, who may rest their starters in the final week of the regular season. Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott shared the team’s plans for Week 18, where he confirmed that the team would “indeed rest some key players in advance of the postseason.”
“Josh Allen will be out there for a very, very short-lived amount of time on Sunday.”
Coach McDermott gives an update heading into Week 18: https://t.co/s8P6I4Q0dN pic.twitter.com/wFbs99Ii6v
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 31, 2024
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The Titans play the Houston Texans, and the Browns play the Ravens. The Texans and Ravens could also rest their starters this week because they have already clinched a playoff berth.
The #Texans open as a three point underdog in Tennessee next Monday, which is a line that reflects resting of starters, including QB1.
— Sean Pendergast (@SeanTPendergast) December 30, 2024
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Week 18: The Philadelphia Eagles Host the New York Giants At Lincoln Financial Field
There is an 88 percent chance the Giants have a top-five pick. However, if they win in Philadelphia on Sunday, they will move out of a top-five spot and have four wins. This could drop them as low as 9th. The Jaguars, Panthers, Jets, Raiders, and Bears — all of whom are Week 18 underdogs — all lose to finish 4-13. The strength of schedule (.551) works against the Giants in all tiebreakers except maybe versus the Bears (.554), depending on the results of this week’s game.
The Eagles reported that they plan to rest key starters, including Saquon Barkley, against the Giants on Sunday to prepare for the playoffs. Clinching the division as well as a playoff berth, Philadelphia, at 13-3, has nothing to “play for.” Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts is still in concussion protocol, and he, too, is not expected to play. Although dealing with a rib injury, Kenny Pickett states he will be ready to go. Before exiting the Cowboys game, Pickett completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards and threw for one touchdown.
Main Photo: Julian Leshay Guadal – USA Today Sports
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