The Holidays may be drawing near, but almost half of the NFL’s 32 teams have already had their playoff stockings stuffed with coal.
The most recent team crying in its eggnog? The Dallas Cowboys, who were eliminated from contention in the NFC East − and the conference at large − thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles’ defeat of the Washington Commanders on Saturday evening. “America’s Team” became the 14th this season to officially fall short of postseason qualification.
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And while no other clubs will join Dallas on the Super Bowl sidelines in Week 16, this did seem like a good time to check in on the also-rans … and those still running, four teams still with a shot to upgrade from playoff hopeful to playoff entry if enough breaks their way over the next two-plus weeks.
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
1. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Jets (from New York Giants) – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
1. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Jets (from New York Giants) – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
2. Las Vegas Raiders – Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
3. Tennessee Titans – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
4. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
5. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Giants (from New York Jets) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
6. Arizona Cardinals – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
7. New Orleans Saints – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
8. Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
10. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
11. Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
12. Kansas City Chiefs – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
13. Minnesota Vikings – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
14. Dallas Cowboys – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
15. Baltimore Ravens – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
16. Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
17. Detroit Lions – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
18. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Giants (from Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets) – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
21. Philadelphia Eagles – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
22. Houston Texans – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
23. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
24. Buffalo Bills – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
25. Chicago Bears – A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
26. Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
27. San Francisco 49ers – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
28. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
29. Los Angeles Rams – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
30. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB/DE, Texas A&M
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
31. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
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2026 NFL mock draft: Proposed trade for No. 1 overall pick
32. Denver Broncos – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Which NFL teams have been eliminated from playoff contention?
These are the teams that have already seen their postseason chances for 2025 extinguished:
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▶ New York Giants (eliminated in Week 12)
▶ Arizona Cardinals (eliminated in Week 13)
▶ New Orleans Saints (eliminated in Week 13)
▶ Tennessee Titans (eliminated in Week 13)
▶ Las Vegas Raiders (eliminated in Week 13)
▶ Washington Commanders (eliminated in Week 14)
▶ Atlanta Falcons (eliminated in Week 14)
▶ New York Jets (eliminated in Week 14)
▶ Cleveland Browns (eliminated in Week 14)
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▶ Cincinnati Bengals (eliminated in Week 15)
▶ Minnesota Vikings (eliminated in Week 15)
▶ Kansas City Chiefs (eliminated in Week 15)
▶ Miami Dolphins (eliminated in Week 15)
▶ Dallas Cowboys (eliminated in Week 16)
NFL teams outside projected playoff bracket but not yet eliminated going into Week 16
▶ Baltimore Ravens (7-7, 38% chance to make playoffs, per NFL’s Next Gen Stats)
▶ Detroit Lions (8-6, 29%)
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▶ Carolina Panthers (7-7, 19%)
▶ Indianapolis Colts (8-6, 12%)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eliminated NFL teams: Which ones are mathematically out of playoffs?