The playoff picture is becoming clearer after several notable teams were eliminated from the postseason race on Sunday.
Both the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers were eliminated from the playoffs before either of them took the field on Sunday. While both franchises would have needed a lot of help and a perfect finish to make the playoffs after their disappointing starts to the season, all hope of that is now officially gone.
The 49ers, who reached the Super Bowl last season, have dealt with several injuries throughout the year, including that of star running back Christian McCaffrey. He played just four games this season, first dealing with an Achilles injury and then a knee injury. San Francisco entered Sunday’s game with the Miami Dolphins having lost four of their last five and sitting last in the NFC West standings.
The Cowboys aren’t in last place in the NFC East — the New York Giants have locked down that position — but their season hasn’t been much better. They enter Sunday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with just a 6-8 record. Even though they have won three of the past four, despite losing quarterback Dak Prescott to a season-ending hamstring injury, their effort came too late. The Cowboys, who lost five straight games and their first five home games earlier this fall, will miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season.
The Baltimore Ravens also secured a playoff spot, their third straight, with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. That win also kept the Steelers from clinching the AFC North.
Here’s a look at the state of the playoffs in the middle of Week 16 of the NFL season.
NFC Playoff Photo
This is what the playoff race will look like in the NFC starting December 22. Teams with an asterisk have yet to play in Week 16. Teams in bold have clinched a playoff spot.
1. Detroit Lions (13-2)
2.Philadelphia Eagles (12-3) vs. 7. Washington Commanders (10-5)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)* vs. 6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)*
4. Los Angeles Rams (9-6) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)*
On the bubble
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)*
10. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
AFC play-off photo
This is what the playoff race will look like in the AFC starting December 22. Teams with an asterisk have yet to play in Week 16. Teams in bold have clinched a playoff spot.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
2. Buffalo notes (11-3)* vs. 7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
4. Houston Texans (9-6) vs 5.Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
On the bubble
8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
10. Miami Dolphins (6-8)*
Complete NFC Leaderboard
As of December 22, things are looking up in the NFC. Teams in bold have clinched a playoff spot. Teams in italics have been eliminated from the playoffs. Teams with an asterisk have yet to play in Week 16.
NFC East
1.Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
2. Washington Commanders (10-5)
3. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)*
4. New York Giants (2-13)
NFC North
1. Detroit Lions (13-2)
2. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)*
3. Green Bay Packers (10-4)*
4. Chicago Bears (4-11)
NFC South
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)*
2. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
3. New Orleans Saints (5-9)*
4. Carolina Panthers (4-11)
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)*
2. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
3. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
4. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)*
Complete AFC rankings
As of December 22, things are looking up in the AFC. Teams in bold have clinched a playoff spot. Teams in italics have been eliminated from the playoffs. Teams with an asterisk have yet to play in Week 16.
AFC East
1. Buffalo notes (11-3)*
2. Miami Dolphins (6-8)*
3. New York Jets (4-11)
4. New England Patriots (3-11)*
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
2.Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
4. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
AFC South
1. Houston Texans (9-6)
2. Indianapolis foals (7-8)
3. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)*
AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
2. Denver Broncos (9-6)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)*
NFL Draft order
While there will likely be a lot of movement in the coming weeks, the Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 1 pick in the draft next spring.
Here’s what the top of the draft order looks like after Week 15. It will be updated before “Sunday Night Football” between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.
1. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
2. New York Giants (2-12)
3. New England Patriots (3-11)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
5. Carolina Panthers (3-11)
6. Tennessee Titans (3-11)
7. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
8. New York Jets (4-10)
9. Chicago Bears (4-10)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
12. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
13. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
14.Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
15. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
16. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
17. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
18.Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
—
19. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
21. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
22. Washington Commanders (9-5)
23. Denver Broncos (9-5)
24.Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
25. Houston Texans (9-5)
26. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
27. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
28. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
29. Buffalo notes (11-3)
30.Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
31. Detroit Lions (12-2)
32. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
