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Winning in Week 15 was a wonderful development for the Detroit Lions. Hammering the Arizona Cardinals, the NFC West leaders and first team to win 10 games this season, showed how well the undermanned Lions can play even in what has been a largely disappointing season.
The impressive 30-12 win elevated the Lions to a record of 2-11-1. Detroit’s big win pairs with the Jacksonville Jaguars losing 30-16 to the Houston Texans dropped the Jaguars to 2-12. And with that, the Lions are no longer the holders of the NFL’s worst record.
Now the Jaguars seize the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft order with three more weeks to play. Given the current state of the Jaguars, who are led by former Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell after Urban Meyer’s ugly tenure ended this week, it’s difficult to see Jacksonville having a better chance to win another game than Detroit. They just got summarily smoked by the Texans, who sit in the No. 3 spot at 3-11. The Jaguars are good evidence that earning the No. 1 overall pick is indicative that a team is in a lot worse shape than one player can fix, with consensus top pick Trevor Lawrence struggling mightily and the Jaguars poised to be the worst team for the second year in a row.
Meanwhile, the Lions keep proving they’re better than the bottom-feeding record might indicate. Over the last six weeks, Detroit has a better record (2-3-1) than the Baltimore Ravens (2-4).
Next week will be a big one at the top of the draft. The Jaguars visit the 3-11 New York Jets, who currently hold the No. 4 spot (their pick is traded to Seattle already). The Lions head to Atlanta to play the 6-8 Falcons, a team currently slated to pick ninth but also a team just a half-game out of the final playoff spot in the NFC.
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