The Lions won, but their NFL Draft order lost on Sunday

The Detroit Lions pulled off a tremendous upset on Sunday afternoon at home over the playoff-bound Arizona Cardinals. That won’t help the tank, though.

The Lions held the likely No. 1 draft pick in their hands to start the day, with rumors suggesting they’d prefer to select Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux if the selection process took place tomorrow.

Yet, there are still games left to play, and Dan Campbell isn’t prone to tanking or giving up in any situation. Now sitting at 2-11-1, the Lions no longer hold the worst record in the NFL.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw three touchdowns, while Kutztown alum Craig Reynolds led the rushing attack. Reynolds was elevated from the practice squad this past week.

2022 NFL Draft order: What does Lions win mean?

The 2021 NFL season has been an odd one, with a multitude of upsets none of us saw coming. Detroit defeating the Cardinals is just another to add to the list.

So, what does this mean for the NFL Draft order?

With the Texans playing the Jaguars on Sunday, the Lions should only move down one slot to the No. 2 selection. Detroit is now 2-11-1, while the Texans/Jaguars will be 2-12, with one more defeat than the Lions.

Detroit finishes the season with games at Atlanta, at Seattle and at home against the Packers. The Falcons and Packers are both battling for playoff positioning, with Green Bay potentially not having much to play for in the final week of the season.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, are just 5-8 on the year and represent another winnable game for Detroit. As shown in Week 15, the Lions are talented enough to compete on a week-to-week basis, and represent a potential spoiler.