There are games that dominate national conversation, and then there are games that quietly shape futures. For the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders this week, it firmly falls into the latter category, as outside of Las Vegas and the New York metropolis, few will circle the matchup on the calendar.
But for Abdul Carter, it represents something far more important than market interest: another proving ground.
The third overall pick in the spring, the belief that paralleled the Penn State product was his explosiveness would translate immediately. Over the last three weeks, that belief has been validated.
Carter has generated 16 pressures in that span, consistently disrupting pockets even when the box score fails to capture his impact. His first-step burst has been overwhelming, his ability to flatten to the quarterback improves by the week, and his confidence has grown snap by snap.
What makes the stretch so telling is not just the volume of pressures, but how they are being created -- he's winning in different ways. Speed off the edge, inside counters when tackles overset, and the closing acceleration that turns near-misses into hits.
Offensive lines are beginning to slide protection his way, yet the disruption remains, an exact early marker of a pass rusher defenses have to point out each snap, rather than simply react to.
Against the Raiders, Carter draws another opportunity to build on his current momentum.
And while it's a matchup that won't be dissected for the consensus crowd looking for storylines on Sunday, it is the kind of game that matters deeply in internal evaluations. Consistency against smaller spotlights often separates good young players from future cornerstones, and for Carter, the challenge is to bring the same urgency and violence to his rush plan regardless of the opponent or stage.
The game also offers a glimpse into what lies ahead.
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As Carter moves toward 2026, the Giants envision him not just as a pressure generator but as a defensive centerpiece, and possibly, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. That means refining counters, improving his strength at contact on early downs, and learning how to close games when offenses know exactly where the pressure is coming from. These late-season reps are foundational to that evolution.
Overall, Week 17 may not move betting lines or dominate headlines, but it matters. For Carter, every snap is a continuation of the case he began building on draft night -- that he was worth the third overall pick, and that the league is only beginning to understand what kind of problem he'll become moving deeper into his career.