Who will end up with the No. 1 pick of the 2017 NFL Draft? Here's a look at four Week 15 games that will help determine the top of the draft order.
Records:Browns: 0-13; Bills: 6-7
Where they stand:On its path toward record-tying futility (only the 2008 Detroit Lions went 0-16), Cleveland still leads for the only consolation prize: the No. 1 overall pick. Robert Griffin III's return from injured reserve last week inspired no immediate hope for a revitalized offense, and now the Browns will travel to face a Buffalo team that has dropped two in a row. If the Browns lose to the Bills, it would eliminate the Chicago Bears from contention for the top pick; a Cleveland loss combined with a Jacksonville win (vs. Houston) would eliminate the Jaguars, as well. The Browns cannot clinch the first pick this weekend, though, since the 49ers are still on their heels at 1-12.
Looking ahead: The Browns play San Diego (5-8) and at Pittsburgh (8-5) in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively. They've not won a road game at Pittsburgh since 2003. Ideally for the Browns, they escape the company of the 2008 Lions and still get the No. 1 pick. But they'd better accomplish the former before traveling to Heinz Field.
Records:49ers: 1-12; Falcons: 8-5
Where they stand:The 49ers continue to hold the No. 2 overall pick and are still within reach of the top pick. The Falcons are pursuing an NFC South title and are in contention for a playoff bye, as well, so focus shouldn't be a problem for Atlanta this week. Another loss would guarantee the 49ers, at worst, the No. 4 pick of the draft.
Looking ahead: Like the Browns, San Francisco's best subsequent shot at a win comes in Week 16, when they'll face the struggling Los Angeles Rams. While the Rams have three more wins than the Niners, they're playing as poorly as any team in the league as of late, having lost the last three weeks by a combined score of 117-45. Beyond that, San Francisco closes with the 8-4-1 Seattle Seahawks.
Records:Jaguars: 2-11; Texans: 7-6
Where they stand:Another disappointing season in Jacksonville has landed the Jaguars back in the mix for a very early pick. They hold the No. 3 overall choice as of this week. They're two games behind the Browns with three weeks left to play, so Jacksonville's shot at the No. 1 pick is nearly dead (and will be dead if the Jags win and the Browns lose on Sunday). But a loss to Houston would keep Jacksonville's chances of securing one of the top two picks alive. I don't expect the Texans to sleep on this one, not with first place in the AFC South at stake, and just a month after the Jaguars gave them a relatively tight game, 24-21.
Looking ahead: Jacksonville closes the year at home against Tennessee (7-6) and at Indianapolis (6-7), both of which remain alive in the AFC South race. The Jaguars notched one of their two wins over the Colts earlier this year with a season-high 30 points, but that was in the first week of October. Jacksonville hasn't scored more than 22 points in a game since then.
Records:Packers: 7-6; Bears: 3-10
Where they stand:The Bears have the fourth-worst record in the NFL, and they draw a Packers team that appears to have turned its season around. Green Bay is riding a three-game winning streak and has renewed playoff hopes that the Bears aren't likely to dim. Quarterback Matt Barkley played his best game since taking over the starting role in Week 12, but he'll be hard-pressed to win head-to-head against Aaron Rodgers. The Bears' chances of securing the No. 1 overall pick would end if they beat the Packers, or if they lose and the Browns lose.
Looking ahead: Of the four teams with the worst records in the NFL, the Bears are the only one facing three teams with current winning records to finish the year. After the Packers, Chicago draws the Redskins (7-5-1) and Vikings (7-6). If Chicago's valiant effort in a 20-17 Sunday loss to the 9-4 Lions is an indication of how competitive they'll be down the stretch, don't count them out for an upset or two.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
