In some ways, the Raiders were winners before they took the field against the Broncos on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

Because of two upsets in the morning games — the Titans over the Browns and the Saints over the Buccaneers — all the Raiders had to do was lose to the Broncos and a path to the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft would bust wide open.

The Raiders (2-11) did their part by losing 24-17 . Doing so moved them two spots up the draft board to the second pick. The only thing standing in their way of the first pick is the 2-11 Giants.

That’s of critical importance to the Raiders, who would be in position to finally draft their franchise-caliber quarterback of the future . Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore are considered the top two quarterback prospects should the

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