Thousands attend an anti-government rally organized by Poland's main opposition party

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Thousands of people attended an anti-government rally organized by Poland's nationalist conservative opposition party to boost support before next year's presidential election.

Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski called on supporters to be active at social and political levels and to back the party’s candidate in next year’s presidential election. He hasn't yet named the candidate.

Kaczynski also accused the pro-European Union government of acting against the nation’s interests and violating its laws and cited recently opened investigations into allegations of mismanagement and corruption of the Law and Justice government.

Up to 4,000 people with national white-and-red flags gathered for the rally held in windy weather outside the Justice Ministry in Warsaw, which has become a symbol of years of deep rifts between the backers of Kaczynski and Donald Tusk, now the prime minister and leader of the center-right Civic Platform party.

Law and Justice, which governed Poland for nearly a decade from 2015 until 2023, drew criticism from Brussels and Tusk alike for making changes to Poland’s judicial system that were deemed undemocratic.

Many in the nation of 38 million people were also tired of the aggressive and divisive language that Kaczynski, who dictated the government's policies from the sidelines, used to energize support.

The party lost power in the 2023 election, but is still exerting control through President Andrzej Duda, who is allied with Law and Justice. Duda, whose second and last term runs out in August, has been blocking many of the government's draft laws.

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, right, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, left, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet, before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, front, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

FILE - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk attends solemn ceremonies at Westerplatte, on the Baltic Sea, Poland, on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Wojciech Strozyk)

The New York Giants lost by winning.

A rare victory — 45-33 over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday — knocked the Giants out of control for the coveted No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

So much for Shedeur Sanders’ Giants-themed cleats unless New York trades up to get the Colorado quarterback.

The Giants (3-13) dropped from first to fourth in the draft order, with the Patriots (3-13) moving up to No. 1. New England doesn’t need a quarterback because rookie Drake Maye has been one of the team’s few bright spots this season. But the Titans (3-13) currently sit at No. 2 and they will be seeking a franchise QB at No. 2. The Browns (3-13) should do the same if they stay at No. 3. Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward won’t be around if New York has to settle for the fourth pick.

That’s why Giants fans were angry after witnessing the team’s first win at MetLife Stadium this season.

“The playoff is out of contention, you understand what they’re saying,” quarterback Drew Lock said after throwing for 309 yards and four touchdowns. “But at the same time, it’s nice to say we’re going to go work, we’re going to keep doing this, we’re going to keep pushing, the season’s not over, we’ve got two games left to be able to come out and win this one — that’s the goal every single week, come out and win and work as hard as we can to do it."

Players aren’t going to tank football games. It’s a violent, physical sport and it would be dangerous to play to lose. Plus, there’s too much pride involved and other factors. Guys are playing for contracts and there are few job guarantees in the NFL.

“We’re obviously not tanking,” said wide receiver Darius Slayton, who screamed an expletive about tanking after catching a 32-yard TD pass. “At the end of the day, we have a job to do. This isn’t basketball, it’s not golf, it’s not tennis. Football, you get hit, so I’m not (going to) go out there and just let people tee off on me just to tank.”

Getting coaches on board to play not to win would be a tough task, too. Brian Daboll has no incentive to care about draft positioning if his job status is uncertain. General manager Joe Schoen also could be fired, so this decision should have come from the top. Start a third-string quarterback and bench key starters. That’s how teams give themselves a better opportunity to lose.

The Giants didn’t do that. The repercussions of this victory could set the organization back a few years if New York doesn’t end up with a franchise quarterback.

That’s not Daboll’s concern. He breathed a sigh of relief after the Giants avoided becoming the first team to go 0-9 at home.

“I see these coaches every day come in and are consistent. It’s hard to be consistent in an inconsistent league when things go ... It’s not great,” Daboll said. “We haven’t had a good record. I firmly acknowledge that and I accept responsibility for that. But their commitment to doing things the right way, day in and day out, staying late and putting together plans much like the players when we’re down and we got two wins. We have the right kind of people. It was good to get a win at home, I’ll say that. It was good to get a win at home. But it means more to me for the players and the coaches.”

Las Vegas, another team that needs a franchise quarterback, was in contention for the top pick before winning consecutive games. Now, the Raiders (4-12) are sitting at No. 8.

“We don’t do this to lose,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said last week. “We don’t do this for anybody’s fantasy football team. Don’t do this for anybody’s draft projections. None of that (stuff) matters to us. What matters is winning, and that’s all we want to do.”

Even if winning ends up hurting the franchise.

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New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) celebrates with tight end Daniel Bellinger (82) after Lock scored a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)