The NFL is working its way through Week 15, and the Texans have a chance to move one step closer to locking down the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. A week after nearly upsetting the Cowboys, Houston gets another tough matchup as they host the AFC West leading Chiefs. Kansas City can clinch the division title with a win.
The Texans are a week or two away from clinching the No. 1 pick in next year's NFL Draft, but the rest of the top ten is not nearly so settled. One game (and a tie) separates the Broncos at No. 2 from the Colts at No. 7. Following that group, six teams entered Week 15 tied with 5-8 records, including the Raiders, Panthers, Falcons, Jaguars, Steelers, and Packers.
Week 15 opened with significant playoff implications between Thursday and Saturday. Sunday and Monday offer matchups with draft pick implications for both teams. The 5-8 Falcons and 4-9 Saints are in the NFC South race, but also right in the draft pick race. Steelers-Panthers features a pair of 5-8 teams and will see the 5-8 Packers host the 4-9 Rams. Arguably the biggest game will see the 3-10 Broncos host the 4-9 Cardinals
Here's the complete 2023 NFL Draft order. The first 18 picks are teams that would currently miss the playoffs. A division leader has a lower draft position than a non-playoff or wild card team with a better record because of the nature of playoff seeding. SOS serves as the tiebreaker and comes via Tankathon.
- Houston Texans, 1-11-1, .498
- Denver Broncos (Seahawks have pick), 3-10, .480
- Chicago Bears, 3-10, .577
- Los Angeles Rams (Lions have pick), 4-9, .500
- New Orleans Saints (Eagles have pick), 4-9, .504
- Arizona Cardinals, 4-9, .518
- Indianapolis Colts, 4-9-1, .504
- Las Vegas Raiders, 5-8, .442
- Carolina Panthers, 5-8, .447
- Atlanta Falcons, 5-8, .451
- Jacksonville Jaguars, 5-8, .491
- Pittsburgh Steelers, 5-8, .537
- Green Bay Packers, 5-8, .564
- Cleveland Browns (Texans have pick), 6-8, .511
- Detroit Lions, 6-7, .553
- Seattle Seahawks, 7-7, .455
- Los Angeles Chargers, 7-6, .434
- New York Jets, 7-6, .528
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-7, .476
- Tennessee Titans, 7-6, .487
- New England Patriots, 7-6, .522
- Miami Dolphins (Forfeit pick due to tampering), 8-6, .540
- New York Giants, 7-5-1, .547
- Washington Commanders, 7-5-1, .547
- Baltimore Ravens, 9-5, .482
- Cincinnati Bengals, 9-4, .529
- San Francisco 49ers (Broncos have pick), 10-4, .417
- Dallas Cowboys, 10-3, .520
- Kansas City Chiefs, 10-3, .440
- Minnesota Vikings, 11-3, .493
- Buffalo Bills, 11-3, .527
- Philadelphia Eagles, 12-1, .475