With Week 13 in the NFL nearing its conclusion, we are starting to reach a point in the season where some pictures are starting to take clear shape across the league. While some teams have solidified themselves in the playoff race, others have fallen by the wayside.
After a busy week with Thanksgiving Day games and a special Black Friday clash, a busy Sunday afternoon slate has dropped some clarity on a few teams whose season, at least from a playoff berth perspective, has officially come to a close. And, before the day is over, new teams might be joining the list.
Teams Eliminated From the Playoffs
There were a handful of teams that could be eliminated from playoff contention entirely heading into Sunday. Unsurprisingly, that list comprised the Tennessee Titans, the New Orleans Saints, the New York Jets, and the Las Vegas Raiders.
For the Jets, a victory over the Atlanta Falcons that involved a spectacular comeback in the fourth quarter, including 10 points in the final two minutes, was enough to stave off elimination for one more week.
However, the Saints and the Titans weren’t so lucky. Despite multiple opportunities, Tyler Shough and New Orleans failed to capitalize against the Dolphins, losing 21-17 and officially ending any playoff hopes the organization might have had.
For Tennessee, there was no shot at all. Blasted apart from start to finish, they were dominated by the Jacksonville Jaguars to the tune of 25-3, as the AFC South playoff race got all the more tighter, only without the Titans in the mix.
According to PFSN Analytics, the Titans now have a 40.6% chance of landing the first overall pick.
MORE: 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft
However, these two rosters were soon joined by another entry in short order. The Raiders, who were facing the Los Angeles Chargers in a firmly lopsided AFC West encounter, walked into the game as the clear underdog. Understandably, that is exactly how the game played out.
While the first half was at least remotely competitive, the second half was a blowaway win for the Chargers, as they walked away with a 31-14 victory to cement their playoff chances even further.
According to the PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Chargers have a 64.4% chance of making the postseason after their win over the Raiders.
On the other hand, the loss for the Raiders put them out of the playoff race after the Jaguars and the Houston Texans both registered wins this week, before the Buffalo Bills’ soundly beating the Pittsburgh Steelers served as the final nail in their coffin.
The Minnesota Vikings lost 26-0 against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13. They can no longer win the NFC North, but still have a 0.2% chance to make the playoffs.
