The dust hasn't even settled yet at Lincoln Financial Field or Acrisure Stadium, but for half the playoff field, the dream is already dead. Honestly, this Wild Card weekend was a total meat grinder. If you’re looking to find out who is eliminated from playoffs NFL right now, the list is officially in. Six teams that started the week with Super Bowl aspirations are currently packing their lockers and heading to early vacations.
It’s brutal. One day you’re dreaming of Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX, and the next, you’re looking at mock drafts. We saw the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles get bounced, the Packers fall just short in a frozen Soldier Field, and the Jaguars' late-season magic finally run out of gas.
The AFC Casualty List: Heavyweights Sent Packing
The AFC was supposed to be a wide-open dogfight, and it delivered. We lost three teams over the last 72 hours, including some names that many experts thought could go all the way.
First up, the Pittsburgh Steelers. They got absolutely dismantled by the Houston Texans on Monday night, losing 30-6. It wasn't even as close as the score looked, which is saying something. C.J. Stroud basically played pitch-and-catch while the Steelers' offense looked stuck in first gear.
Then you have the Jacksonville Jaguars. This one hurts for the fans in Duval. After an eight-game win streak to close the regular season, they ran into a Buffalo Bills team that just seems to have their number. A 27-24 loss at home? That's going to sting all through the spring.
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Finally, the Los Angeles Chargers are out. They traveled to Foxborough and got a face full of a rejuvenated New England defense. Drake Maye outplayed Justin Herbert in a 16-3 defensive slog that reminded everyone why you never count out a team coached by a defensive mastermind in January.
Teams eliminated in the AFC:
- Jacksonville Jaguars (Seed: 3)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Seed: 4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (Seed: 7)
NFC Heartbreak: No Repeat for Philly
In the NFC, the biggest headline is clearly the Philadelphia Eagles. The defending champs are officially who is eliminated from playoffs NFL after a gritty 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. It was a rematch of last year's NFC Championship, but this time, the Niners’ defense held firm when it mattered most.
The Green Bay Packers also saw their season end in heartbreaking fashion. They went into Chicago and fought the Bears tooth and nail, but a 31-27 loss ended the Jordan Love Cinderella run. Soldier Field was rocking, and the Bears' defense made just one more play than the Packers could handle.
Lastly, the Carolina Panthers. They were the ultimate "just happy to be here" story after winning a weak NFC South at 8-9. They actually gave the Rams a massive scare, nearly pulling off the upset before falling 34-31. Matthew Stafford had to dig deep to survive that one.
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Teams eliminated in the NFC:
- Philadelphia Eagles (Seed: 3)
- Carolina Panthers (Seed: 4)
- Green Bay Packers (Seed: 7)
Why these teams fell apart when it mattered
It’s easy to just look at the scoreboard, but the "why" is more interesting. Take the Eagles. Their offense, which looked unstoppable last season, became weirdly predictable. San Francisco knew exactly what was coming on those crucial third downs.
In Pittsburgh, the story was the same as it’s been for years: great defense, but an offense that can’t keep the unit off the field. By the fourth quarter against Houston, that Steelers defense was gassed. You can’t ask T.J. Watt to do everything.
The Jaguars' exit is probably the most surprising. They were the "hot" team. But Trevor Lawrence struggled with the Bills' disguised coverages, and losing the turnover battle is a death sentence in the postseason. Basically, if you don't take care of the rock, you don't move on.
Who is still alive and what’s next?
Now that we know who is eliminated from playoffs NFL, the field is down to the "Elite Eight." The divisional round is where the real heavyweights come out to play, including the two teams that got to enjoy a week of rest.
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The Denver Broncos (AFC No. 1 seed) and the Seattle Seahawks (NFC No. 1 seed) are finally entering the fray. Seattle looks like the team to beat right now. Their defense has been holding opponents to "fine powder" lately, according to some scouts.
Here is the schedule for the Divisional Round:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET, CBS)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET, FOX)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET, ABC/ESPN)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET, NBC)
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round
If you’re looking at the remaining field, keep an eye on the rest advantage. The 49ers are heading to Seattle on just five days of rest after a physical battle with Philly. That’s a massive uphill climb against a well-rested Seahawks squad.
Also, don't sleep on the Texans. Everyone is talking about the Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, but Houston's defense is playing out of its mind. They just held the Steelers to 6 points. If they can rattle Drake Maye early on Sunday, we might be looking at a No. 5 seed in the AFC Championship game.
For those tracking the betting lines or just trying to win their office pool, look at the home-field stats. The Broncos were 8-1 at home this year, while the Patriots were actually better on the road (8-0) than at home (6-3). Weird, right? It's those little nuances that usually decide who survives and who ends up on the "eliminated" list next week.
Monitor the injury reports for Matthew Stafford and Bo Nix closely this week. Both quarterbacks are carrying slight knocks into their matchups. In a single-elimination tournament, a 10% drop in mobility can be the difference between a touchdown and a sack-fumble.