Part 4/12:
One significant factor in this race is the impact of injuries, especially to key players like Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL early in the season, leaving the Chiefs without their superstar. This injury shifts the power dynamics, especially concerning the Texans, who have been impressively hot, and the Jaguars, who might be resting starters in their season finale if they've already secured their playoff spot or need to evaluate talent.
The game between the Giants and Raiders is particularly pivotal. If the Raiders win, they could drop to as low as sixth in the draft order due to their strength of schedule. Conversely, a Giants win or loss can push these teams closer to the top of the draft order, intensifying the race for the first overall pick.