Will NY lose #1 if they beat the Colts?

The New York Giants planned a big celebration for the 2024 season, which would be their 100th as an active NFL franchise. Whether it was bold throwback uniforms or a performance on offseason version of Hard Knocksthe Giants planned to make themselves a prominent part of the story of the 2024 campaign.

John Mara’s team has become a prominent story, albeit for all the wrong reasons. New York’s 2-13 start is on pace for its worst season since 1965, the last time the Giants held the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. While foggy weather will prevent banner planes from flying over their final home game against the Indianapolis Colts today, the Giants could still find a way to make things worse for themselves in the future.

Thanks to the Las Vegas Raiders’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, the Giants hold the top pick in the draft thanks to being the only NFL team with two wins. There are still two chances for New York to turn that position up, though, thanks to the fact that their opponent’s strength of schedule is the strongest of any team vying for the top pick with two weeks to go.

A win over the Colts — who are trying to stay alive for the playoffs with backup Joe Flacco under center — would drop the Giants from the first pick all the way to the sixth pick, according to Tankathon. While the strength of schedule metrics vary from week to week, the Giants’ figure will only get stronger with a seven-win Colts team and a 12-win Eagles team over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Even if the Giants lose to the Colts, they could find themselves facing a Philadelphia team resting starters in Week 18, increasing the odds they could stumble into a win there as well. Losing both games is imperative to the future of the franchise as the Giants are finally able to have their pick of potential franchise quarterbacks in the draft, a position that will disappear if they lose again by winning.