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As the 2025 NFL regular season reaches Week 17, the playoff race is moving from crowded to clear. Some teams are still fighting for division titles or wild card spots. Others are officially done, with no mathematical path to the postseason.

NFL Playoff Elimination Watch: Which Teams Are Officially Out in 2025 (Updated Week 17)
NFL playoff bracket

How NFL Playoff Elimination Works (Quick Refresher)

The NFL sends 14 teams to the playoffs:

  • 4 division winners per conference

  • 3 wild card teams per conference

A team is eliminated when it can no longer:

  • Win its division, or

  • Reach a wild card spot based on record and tiebreakers (head-to-head, conference record, common games, etc.)

Once all scenarios are gone, elimination becomes official.

AFC Teams Eliminated From Playoff Contention

The following AFC teams are officially out of the 2025 playoff race as of Week 17:

  • Indianapolis Colts
    Eliminated after key AFC South results closed their final wild card path.

  • Miami Dolphins
    A sub-.500 record and multiple tiebreaker losses ended their postseason hopes.

  • Kansas City Chiefs
    Injuries and late-season losses proved too much to overcome in a crowded AFC.

  • Cincinnati Bengals
    Eliminated due to record and head-to-head disadvantages against wild card rivals.

  • New York Jets
    Offensive inconsistency and divisional losses sealed their fate.

  • Tennessee Titans
    Unable to keep pace in the AFC South and wild card standings.

NFC Teams Eliminated From Playoff Contention

These NFC teams are also officially eliminated heading into Week 17:

  • Dallas Cowboys
    Division losses and tiebreakers ended any remaining postseason scenarios.

  • Detroit Lions
    Fell too far behind in the wild card race despite late competitiveness.

  • Minnesota Vikings
    Inconsistent play and close losses proved costly.

  • Atlanta Falcons
    Eliminated earlier after failing to gain traction in the NFC South.

  • New Orleans Saints
    Missed opportunities within the division sealed elimination.

  • Washington Commanders
    A losing streak removed all playoff paths.

  • Arizona Cardinals
    Rebuilding year with no late-season push.

  • New York Giants
    The first team eliminated this season, never recovered.

Why Elimination Matters Late in the Season

Once teams are eliminated:

  • Young players often get more snaps

  • Coaches experiment with schemes

  • Front offices begin evaluating draft position

  • Opponents may face less pressure but more unpredictability

For fans, this also clarifies which games still matter for playoff seeding and which teams are already playing for next season.

Quick Summary: Teams Eliminated From Playoffs (Week 17)

AFC: Colts, Dolphins, Chiefs, Bengals, Jets, Titans
NFC: Cowboys, Lions, Vikings, Falcons, Saints, Commanders, Cardinals, Giants

This list reflects official mathematical elimination, not opinion or projections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many NFL teams are eliminated before Week 18?

Most seasons see 10–16 teams eliminated before the final week, depending on how tight the standings are.

Can an eliminated team still affect the playoffs?

Yes. Eliminated teams can still:

  • Upset contenders

  • Impact seeding

  • Influence division winners

What’s the difference between “clinched” and “eliminated”?

  • Clinched: Guaranteed a playoff spot

  • Eliminated: No remaining playoff scenarios

When is the full playoff bracket finalized?

After all Week 18 games are completed.