Which NFL Teams Have Been Eliminated From the 2025 Playoffs?
Keeping tabs on the NFL teams that are missing from the postseason picture.
It’s that time of the NFL season when fans are beginning to feel the elation of an upcoming playoff run — or else, of course, the deflating letdown that comes with casting a covetous eye toward the upcoming NFL Draft with hopes of better success next year.
Yep, one by one, each team in the NFL has zeroed in on its postseason fate — whether it’s for better or for worse. For a few, like QB Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs, the playoff picture’s looked pretty clear for a while now. For the rest, the playoff dominoes fell fast and furious in the final weeks of the NFL regular season.
Click here to see which NFL teams locked in their 2024 playoff berths. But to find out if your team has been eliminated from playoff contention, keep scrolling below… and maybe keep a tearful tissue close by.
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The NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2025
AFC teams eliminated from 2025 NFL playoffs
Cleveland Browns: The Browns were eliminated in Week 14, with a loss to the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers that put their own playoff hopes officially out of reach. The Browns finished the season at the bottom of the standings in the AFC North with a 3-14 record.
Jacksonville Jaguars: With only four wins to their credit this season, the Jags at least beat out the Tennessee Titans to stay out of the basement of the AFC South. Jacksonville’s playoff eligibility officially hit the skids in Week 13, courtesy of a 23-20 loss to the playoff-bound Houston Texans.
Las Vegas Raiders: Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium is an awesome place to play football — at least, that is, if you’re winning. It’s tough to be a Raiders fan in 2024 (along with most other years), with Las Vegas dwelling decisively at the bottom of the AFC West. The Raiders notched only four wins this season, with their crushing late defeat against Mahomes and the Chiefs nudging them out of contention in Week 13.
New England Patriots: New England finished just one win behind the New York Jets in the AFC South, but it’s all academic at the end of the day, as neither team is playoff bound in 2024. The Pats headed for the postseason exit ramp in Week 13, falling in a close game to the Indianapolis Colts.
New York Jets: The Jets weren’t looking like playoff contenders well before Week 14, but that’s the week that did them in. The Miami Dolphins prevailed in overtime on December 8 to hand New York its 14th consecutive elimination from postseason play — the NFL’s longest active playoff dearth.
Tennessee Titans: Tennessee locked up the nether reaches of the AFC South all to themselves, with only three wins this season. Credit the Jags with doing the elimination honors, as it was Jacksonville’s Week 14 win over the Titans that officially knocked Tennessee out of contention.
Miami Dolphins: After a tough start and some significant injuries, the Dolphins still managed to stay in the playoff hunt through Week 18, if they could handle their business against the lowly Jets. Alas, they didn't, but the Fins would have been eliminated even with a win, as the Denver Broncos crushed the Chiefs and secured the final AFC playoff spot.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals and Joe Burrow finished the year on a tear, but ultimately couldn't overcome their bungled start. Though they won the last five games of the season, it wasn't enough, as the Broncos victory over the Chiefs in Week 18 officially eliminated the much-ballyhooed Bengals.
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NFC teams eliminated from 2025 NFL playoffs
Arizona Cardinals: In a competitive NFC West division, the Arizona Cardinals had the playoffs in sight until it all came crashing down in Week 16. The Cards’ overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers on December 22 — coming on the same day that the division leading Los Angeles Rams won their own game against the Jets — deferred Arizona’s postseason hopes for at least another year.
Carolina Panthers: Late in the 2024 NFL season, QB Bryce Young and the Panthers finally began to show some much-needed signs of offensive life — even while losing. But for 2024 at least, it’s definitely a case of too little, too late. The Panthers’ Week 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers closed the door on the cellar-dwelling NFC South team’s postseason hopes.
Chicago Bears: The Bears have it rough in the NFC North, where Detroit, Minnesota, and Green Bay all made the playoffs. Managing only five wins this season, the Bears had their playoff hopes dashed for good in Week 15, watching their mathematical odds sink to zero with the Washington Commanders’ win over the New Orleans Saints.
Dallas Cowboys: Even with just seven wins this season, the Cowboys are at least looking down at the hapless New York Giants in the NFC East. But they’re also looking up at the Philadelphia Eagles, who’re headed to the playoffs in a year that saw the Cowboys’ hopes sink in Week 16, thanks to the Eagles’ wild loss — with Dallas watching from the sidelines — to fellow division foes the Washington Commanders.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints got blanked in a 34-0 thrashing by the Green Bay Packers to finish off Week 16, in the process shutting out their postseason hopes as well. With just five wins, they finished the season sharing the bottom of the NFC South with the Carolina Panthers.
New York Giants: The Giants hold the dubious distinction of having been the earliest NFL team eliminated from the postseason this year, tapping out on Thanksgiving Day after falling to NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. To add insult to injury, they closed out the 2024 regular season by finishing last in the NFC East.
San Francisco 49ers: After winning the NFC just one year ago, the 49ers needed some help from other teams to see their Super Bowl dreams rekindled this season. But in Week 16, it all went sideways. NFC West rivals the Los Angeles Rams won when they needed to, and the Washington Commanders stayed alive in the NFC East race — two dominoes that had to fall for the 49ers, even before they kicked off (and lost) on the road against Miami later that same day.
Seattle Seahawks: Even with a 10-7 record, the Seahawks couldn't get into the dance this year. Though they finished with the same record as the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams, tie breakers didn't break in their favor, and the pride of the PNW will get themselves an early golf season instead of a date with the postseason.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons went into Week 18 with a chance at the postseason, if they could beat the lowly Panthers, and get a little help from the Saints against the Buccaneers. Alas, neither of those scenarios played out in their favor, and the 8-9 Falcons will be heading home to wonder, "What if?"
Be sure to stay tuned into NBC and Peacock as the playoffs kickoff, to catch exclusive games - and of course Sunday Night Football on NBC next season!
Originally published Dec 24, 2024.
