By definition, the NFL’s wheat and chaff are fully separated by the conclusion of Week 18 in a given season − the playoff field locked by that point – while hotel bookings, airfares and tee times are being finalized for those members (or soon-to-be former members) of the 18 clubs which have officially seen their campaigns come to an early end.
A lot of those vacation plans are likely already set in actuality even as the 2025 regular season reaches its final weekend, 16 teams − literally half the league − preparing, fervently or maybe not so much, for their farewell contests. A dozen more proceed knowing they’ll get their shots at Super Bowl 60, even if they don’t yet know who or when they’ll be playing on the other side of Sunday.
Beyond that are the four outfits still in limbo − two that will advance to the postseason, and two that will see their Lombardi Trophy dreams dissolve as they join the list of the eliminated. Here’s a look at which teams are already playing out the string, along with the quartet which remains on life support:
NFL teams that can clinch playoffs spots in Week 18 or be eliminated
Carolina Panthers (8-9, 60% chance to make playoffs, per NFL’s Next Gen Stats, requiring an Atlanta win to do so)
Baltimore Ravens (8-8, 61% chance, requiring a win over Pittsburgh to do so)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, 39% chance, requiring a win over Baltimore or tie to do so)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9, 40% chance, requiring an Atlanta loss to do so)
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)
Detroit Lions (eliminated in Week 17)
Indianapolis Colts (eliminated in Week 17)