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? TheDallas Cowboys, who were eliminated from contention in the NFC East −and the conference at large− thanks to thePhiladelphia Eagles' defeat of the Washington Commanderson Saturday evening. "America's Team" became the 14th this season to officially fall short of postseason qualification.
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.
1. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Jets (from New York Giants) - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
3. Tennessee Titans - Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
4. Cleveland Browns - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
5. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Giants (from New York Jets) - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
6. Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
7. New Orleans Saints - Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
8. Washington Commanders - Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
10. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
11. Miami Dolphins - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
12. Kansas City Chiefs - David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
13. Minnesota Vikings - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
14. Dallas Cowboys - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
15. Baltimore Ravens - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
16. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
17. Detroit Lions - Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
18. (PROPOSED TRADE) New York Giants (from Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets) - Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
22. Houston Texans - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
23. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) - T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
24. Buffalo Bills - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
25. Chicago Bears - A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
27. San Francisco 49ers - Makai Lemon, WR, USC" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
28. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
29. Los Angeles Rams - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
30. New England Patriots - Cashius Howell, OLB/DE, Texas A&M" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
31. Seattle Seahawks - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
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
Which NFL teams have been eliminated from playoff contention?
These are the teams that have already seen their postseason chances for 2025 extinguished:
▶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)
▶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%)
▶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?
