While there are still five weeks left in the 2024 NFL regular season, four teams are already out of playoff contention due to Week 13 results. The New England Patriots, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars must wait until next season to get another shot at the postseason.
The Patriots are out of the playoff picture after their one-point loss to the Indianapolis Colts. They’ve lost four of their last five and ten of their first 13 games. Conversely, the Buffalo Bills’ fifth consecutive AFC East division title affected New England’s playoff aspirations. Despite the Patriots’ elimination, they have found another potential franchise quarterback in Drake Maye.
Meanwhile, the Giants have been eliminated after their 27-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, their division rivals. New York’s NFC team dropped both matches against the Cowboys and has lost its last seven games. The Giants had three starting quarterbacks this season, and one of them (Daniel Jones) isn’t with the team anymore.
After their 19-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders are out of the playoff hunt. Las Vegas is at 2-10 and has lost eight consecutive games. The Raiders have used Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell as quarterbacks and haven’t had a 100-yard rusher all season. However, they’ve found a star in Brock Bowers, a leading candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Finally, after their 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans, the Jaguars have the same record as the Giants and the Raiders. They have lost five consecutive games, and their two wins were against the Colts and the Patriots.
After the first 13 weeks of the season, four teams have been eliminated from playoff contention pic.twitter.com/ZAIwBmgBwU
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 3, 2024
While they are at the bottom of the standings, these four teams will compete for top overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. To claim that spot, these teams might be better off losing more games to clinch the number one selection in the coming weeks.
-Lance Fernandez