GREG JOHNSON: Daniel Jones must win down the stretch to have chance to be Giants’ future QB

The Giants’ playoff hopes may be effectively over barring a miracle, but exactly how much they lose from here on out will determine their draft position.

For Daniel Jones, winning as many games as possible will increase the chances that the Giants (2-6) don’t draft his successor next year simply because they may not be picking high enough. They are currently slotted fourth.

The fifth-year quarterback will return Sunday in Las Vegas from a neck injury that cost him three games. No one expected to be talking in Week 9 about the Giants looking for another quarterback after signing Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract, but life changes fast in the NFL when you don’t perform well.

Still, there’s time for Jones to rewrite that narrative. He’ll be playing with running back Saquon Barkley again for the first time since Week 2, All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas might play for the first time since Week 1, and four of the Giants’ next five opponents have losing records.

“I feel good. I feel recovered,” Jones said Wednesday after returning to full participation in practice. “I think we’re all focused on doing what we can to help make plays, score points, and do what we can to put the team in position to win games. That’s what we’re focused on as a group, and we’re excited to do it.”

And oh, by the way, the Giants have had the best defense in the NFL over their last three games, holding opponents to 11.3 points per game. They should continue to play well even after defensive lineman Leonard Williams was traded to Seattle.

Sure, it hurts that Jones will be missing his leading target in tight end Darren Waller for potentially “weeks” now with a hamstring injury, Waller admitted Wednesday, but that’s not enough of an excuse to override the other factors now. Every quarterback is dealing with some type of adversity.

Jones and the Giants simply can’t lose this game against the bumbling Raiders (3-5), who this past week fired their general manager, head coach and offensive coordinator.

“You have to really focus on your team and getting prepared and watching all the games,” said head coach Brian Daboll, who was the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator in 2011 when Miami fired head coach Tony Sparano midseason. “I’ve been there on the other side of it, so we’ll do our normal preparation and try to get ready to play our best game.”

Even a pair of touchdowns and a pair of field goals should be more than enough considering Wink Martindale’s defense is clicking in all aspects right now, coupled with the fact that the Raiders are turning to rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell, a fourth-round pick from Purdue who has made only one career start and has thrown 52 passes.

It will be interesting, though, to see who the Giants actually have kicking field goals. They placed Graham Gano on injured reserve with a knee injury after Gano elected to undergo surgery this coming week. The Giants responded by signing two kickers who were most recently with the Titans: second-year pro Cade York off the Titans’ practice squad to their active roster, and 12th-year pro Randy Bullock as a free agent to their practice squad.

York went 24-for-32 on field goals with the Browns last season, while Bullock is an 83.4 percent kicker on 253 field goal attempts. Bullock actually appeared in one game with the Giants in 2016 and made two of three extra point attempts before Josh Brown was reinstated from suspension.

“We’re going to have two of them out here today and we’re going to kick and do our normal stuff, and then we’ll make a decision,” Daboll said before Friday’s practice.

Does Jones believe the Giants can band together and start playing some more consistent winning football?

“I do,” Jones said. “I’m confident in our group. I’m confident in what we’re doing, and we’ve just got to put it together, and we’ve got the guys to do it. I’m confident. I think we all are. We’ve got to go out there and show it on Sunday.”

And no one has to prove themselves more right now than Jones.

Giants Gameday

The Game: Giants (2-6) at Raiders (3-5), Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev., Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)

The Line: Las Vegas by 1.5

History: The Raiders lead the all-time series, 8-6, but the Giants have won four of the last five meetings including the most recent game in 2021 in East Rutherford. The Raiders won in 2017 when they still played in Oakland.

Key Matchups:

Giants RT Evan Neal vs. Raiders DE Maxx Crosby: Crosby has played 97 percent of the Raiders’ defensive snaps and is tied for the NFL lead with 52 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. He also has 6.5 sacks and 10 QB hits. He is likely to be a big problem for whoever lines up at right tackle for the Giants. Neal, who has had a rough sophomore season, is trending toward a return after missing two games with an ankle injury.

Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson vs. Raiders secondary: Robinson has been quiet the last two games — although the Giants had no passing game last week against the Jets — but will be playing with Daniel Jones again now. Las Vegas ranks ninth in passing yards allowed per game (197). Robinson also brings versatility as a runner on jet sweeps and other trick plays.

Giants CB Deonte Banks vs. Raiders WR Davante Adams: Adams, a six-time Pro Bowler, leads Las Vegas with 47 receptions for 539 yards. Banks, a rookie, has seven passes defended but has also taken his lumps as a rookie while being flagged for six penalties (three of them accepted by the offense). This will be another tough challenge for Banks.

Giants DT Dexter Lawrence vs. Raiders offensive line: Lawrence tied his career high with five QB hits against the Jets and looks poised for another monster game. Las Vegas’ interior line has struggled mightily this season. The Lions had six sacks for 49 yards against the Raiders last week.

Injury Report:

Giants: OUT: K Graham Gano (knee), QB Tyrod Taylor (ribs), TE Darren Waller (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), RT Evan Neal (ankle), RB Jashaun Corbin (hamstring).

Raiders: OUT: LB Divine Deablo (ankle), FB Jakob Johnson (concussion), LB Luke Masterson (concussion), OT Thayer Munford (neck); QUESTIONABLE: LB Robert Spillane (hand).

Giant Facts: The Giants’ 58 rushing yards allowed against the Jets were the fewest in two seasons under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. … Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham served in the same role for the Giants under Joe Judge from 2020-21. … The Giants rank last in the NFL with 155.1 passing yards per game and 11.9 points per game.

The Prediction: Giants 20, Raiders 13