The Arizona Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday 35-31. The win came with a price. It cost them a couple of spots in the 2024 NFL draft order with one week to go in the season.
If the season were to end today, they would have the fourth overall pick in the draft after having the second pick a week ago.
They are now 4-12, the same record as the New England Patriots and the Washington Commanders. However, the Cardinals’ strength of schedule is higher than both other teams, meaning they lose the tiebreaker.
Here is the top 10 after Week 17 (with strength of schedule in parentheses if other teams have the same record):
- Chicago Bears (from Panthers, 2-13)
- Washington Commanders, 4-12 (.515)
- New England Patriots, 4-12 (.518)
- Arizona Cardinals, 4-12 (.562)
- New York Giants, 5-11 (.511)
- Los Angeles Chargers, 5-11 (.526)
- Tennessee Titans, 5-11 (.529)
- New York Jets, 6-10
- Atlanta Falcons, 7-9 (.423)
- Chicago Bears, 7-9 (.463)
Depending on what happens in Week 18, the Cardinals will finish as high as the second pick and will be no lower than seventh.
The Cardinals also own the Houston Texans’ first-round pick. Houston won on Sunday to improve to 9-7. Their pick is No. 17 overall, the same as it was last week.
Houston can make the postseason with a win this week. If they do make the playoffs, their pick will be 19th or lower, depending on when they lose.
So Cardinals fans will want to see them lose to the Indianapolis Colts.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
