Lions shock Cardinals as Jaguars gain inside track to pick 1st overall
The Detroit Lions cruised to a 30-12 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, picking up their second win and putting the Jacksonville Jaguars in position to draft first overall in 2022.
Detroit entered Week 15 at the bottom of the NFL standings. The Houston Texans beat the Jaguars to stay out of the basement and send their AFC South counterparts there instead.
Projected top 5 picks
| Pick | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaguars | 2-12 |
| 2 | Lions | 2-11-1 |
| 3 | Texans | 3-11 |
| 4 | Jets | 3-10 |
| 5 | Giants | 4-10 |
The Lions dominated from start to finish, scoring the first 17 points of the game while frazzling Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. Jared Goff went 21-for-26 for 216 yards and three touchdowns in perhaps his finest performance as a Lion.
Detroit lost its first eight games, eliciting memories of the franchise's 0-16 campaign in 2008, before tying the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10. Dan Campbell's squad finally earned a victory in Week 13 against the Minnesota Vikings and has now won two of three.
Arizona would have clinched a playoff spot with a win but instead dropped to 10-4. The Rams can move into a share of the NFC West's top spot with a win over the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.