The NFL playoffs are off the table for the Detroit Lions (8-8) after their Christmas Day loss at the Minnesota Vikings. That means it’s time to turn attention toward the 2026 NFL draft.
As everything currently stands heading into Sunday’s Week 17 slate, the Lions currently would pick 15th overall in the 2026 NFL draft. Thanks to the Baltimore Ravens‘ Saturday night win over the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears have clinched the NFC North.
It also means the Packers are locked in as the NFC’s No. 7 seed for the playoffs, which could be good news for Detroit’s hopes to land a fourth-place schedule.
The Ravens‘ win also moved Detroit up one spot in the NFL draft order, from 16th to 15th. That’s because Detroit’s strength of schedule is .492 as compared to Baltimore’s .502 strength of schedule. Strength of schedule is measured as the aggregate winning percentage of a team’s opponents, and per NFL draft rules, the team that played the schedule with the lowest winning percentage is awarded the higher pick.
So, what should Lions fans be rooting for in order for Detroit to wind up with the best possible draft pick? Here’s your Sunday rooting guide:
Who to root for: Buccaneers
Kickoff Time: 1 p.m. ET
This feels like a cut-the-losses situation. There’s a scenario out there where both Miami and Tampa Bay end the season with identical 8-9 records as Detroit. But, the Dolphins’ strength of schedule is already worse than the Lions and that scenario would also require Miami beating a New England team next week that could be playing for both the AFC East title and the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Plus, there’s a scenario where Tampa Bay has nothing to play for next week if it loses to the Dolphins.
Root for the Bucs to get that eighth win right here and right now in Week 17.
Who to root for: Colts
Kickoff Time: 1 p.m. ET
If the Colts top the Jaguars on Sunday, that would ensure that the Lions pick before Indianapolis. The Lions couldn’t finish with a better record than the Colts and Indianapolis’ .538 strength of schedule is decidedly better than the Lions.
Who to root for: Panthers
Kickoff Time: 1 p.m. ET
If the Panthers beat the Seahawks, that gets Carolina to nine wins and would safely have the Lions picking before them. The Panthers’ strength of schedule is .518.
Who to root for: Bears
Kickoff Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
The Bears have already clinched the NFC North, but there’s still an avenue to the No. 1 seed if they beat the 49ers this week. Plus, it guarantees that Chicago has plenty to play for next week, which, if you’re rooting for the Lions to wind up with their best possible draft pick, that will include the Bears beating the Lions in Week 18.
Who to root for: Falcons
Kickoff Time: 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Lastly, to Monday night.
Assuming the Lions lose next week at the Bears, the Falcons are currently 6-9 and would need to win their final two games versus the Rams and versus the Saints in order to finish with the same record as the Lions. If they do, Detroit would jump Atlanta in the NFL draft order, thanks to the Falcons’ .502 strength of schedule.
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