Goodbye to the playoffs: Every NFL team eliminated from the 2025 postseason

The Detroit Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Christmas Day, one of 15 NFL teams that will spend Week 17 watching the postseason race rather than shaping it.

With the 2025 regular season nearing its conclusion, the playoff race is red hot. Every remaining contender is fighting for survival as the final postseason tickets are decided, with the ultimate goal of reaching Super Bowl LX.

The championship game will be played Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers.

2025 NFL playoff picture tightens late in the season

As Week 17 unfolds, the AFC already has seven teams mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. In the NFC, eight franchises have seen their postseason hopes come to an end.

Detroit’s elimination on Christmas Day was one of the most notable developments, underscoring how unforgiving the late-season NFL calendar can be.

AFC teams eliminated from playoff contention

Seven AFC teams are officially out of the race:

• Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
• Miami Dolphins (6-9)
• Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
• New York Jets (3-12)
• Tennessee Titans (3-12)
• Cleveland Browns (3-12)
• Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)

Several of these teams entered the season with playoff expectations, making their early exits particularly striking as the year comes to a close.

NFC teams eliminated from playoff contention

The NFC elimination list now includes eight teams:

• Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
• Detroit Lions (8-8)
• Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)
• Atlanta Falcons (6-9)
• New Orleans Saints (5-10)
• Washington Commanders (4-12)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
• New York Giants (2-13)

With nearly half the league already eliminated, the focus now turns to the remaining contenders battling for seeding, division titles, and the final wild-card spots as the road to Super Bowl LX reaches its most dramatic stretch.

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