The Arizona Cardinals are not in the playoff picture. They are contending for a top pick in the NFL draft in 2024. They enter Week 15 with the third overall pick, but messing around and winning a game might change things.
The Carolina Panthers seem to have the worst record in the league locked up, meaning the Chicago Bears are destined to have the top overall selection, but the Cardinals could viably end up as high as No. 2 overall.
Cardinals fans should be rooting for the following teams in Week 15 to help the team solidify or improve their draft status.
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Washington Commanders
The Commanders are on the road to face the Los Angeles Rams. At 4-9, if the Cardinals win a game and Washington wins out, the Cardinals would fall behind them because of strength of schedule.
So it would be huge for the Commanders to pick up a fifth win and give the Cardinals room to win a game and still stay ahead in the draft.
Plus, it’s always nice to see a division rival lose when favored.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans face the Houston Texans at home. The Cardinals own the Texans’ first-round pick, which is No. 16 at the moment. A Titans win moves them further away from the Cardinals record-wise (it would be their sixth of the season) and would make the Texans 7-7, likely moving their pick up the first round by a spot or two.
Cardinals fans are big Titans fans this weekend.
New England Patriots
The Patriots host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. At 3-10, they have the same record as the Cardinals but have the higher pick (No. 2 overall currently) because they have a weaker strength of schedule.
A Patriots win coupled with the Cardinals losing to the 49ers would move Arizona up to the No. 2 pick.
Any of the other five-win teams
The Cardinals are two wins behind the five-teams like the Chicago Bears, New York Jets and New York Giants.
A sixth win is just more cushion for Arizona.
