Hapless New York Giants secure unwanted first as NFL playoff picture sharpens

The New York Giants are the first and so far only team to be ruled out of the 2025 NFL postseason after their Week 12 overtime defeat to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday.

Giants officially eliminated after sixth straight loss

Now led by interim coach Mike Kafka after Brian Daboll’s firing, the Giants showed signs of life in Detroit, where they held a 10-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. However, they once again showed they are incapable of holding on to a significant lead and were ultimately beaten in overtime.

The defeat was the Giants’ sixth in a row and leaves them with a 2-10 record for the season. That, in turn, means they are the only one of the league’s 32 franchises officially eliminated from postseason contention.

NFL teams on the brink of postseason elimination

AFC

New York will likely be joined by a number of teams in the following weeks, with the postseason all but out of reach for the Tennessee Titans (1-10), New York Jets (2-9), Las Vegas Raiders (2-9), Cleveland Browns (3-8) and Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) in the AFC.

NFC

In the NFC, the New Orleans Saints (2-9), Washington Commanders (3-8) and Arizona Cardinals (3-8) need the miracle of all miracles to avoid being eliminated early.

Patriots and Eagles closing on playoffs

At the end of the spectrum, the New England Patriots (10-2 in the AFC East) and Philadelphia Eagles (8-3 in NFC East) are closest to securing their playoffs spots.

Giants’ postseason struggles

Since winning Super Bowl XLVI in 2011, the Giants have only qualified for the playoffs on two occasions. In 2016, they lost to the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round, while they were thrashed by the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round in 2022.

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