Week 13 of the NFL season delivered more than just hard hits and highlight-reel plays - it also brought the curtain down on the playoff hopes of three teams. The Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans were officially eliminated from postseason contention after suffering their latest losses, and for each of them, the road to this point has been filled with frustration, missed opportunities, and a whole lot of soul-searching.
Let’s start in Tampa, where the Cardinals fell 20-17 to the Buccaneers. It was another close one for Arizona, but close doesn’t cut it in the NFL - especially when you’re sitting at 3-9 and dead last in the NFC West. The Cardinals have struggled to find consistency on either side of the ball this year, and this latest defeat was a microcosm of their season: flashes of competitiveness, but ultimately not enough to finish the job.
The Saints, meanwhile, dropped to 2-10 after a 21-17 loss to the Dolphins in Miami. That scoreline might suggest a tight contest, but the Saints have been trending in the wrong direction for weeks.
Their offense continues to sputter, and with the defense unable to carry the load, they now find themselves at the bottom of the NFC South. For a team that once prided itself on toughness and swagger, this season has been a humbling experience.
Then there's Tennessee. The Titans' season has gone from bad to worse, and Sunday’s 25-3 home loss to the Jaguars was just the latest blow in a campaign that’s been unraveling since Week 1.
At 1-11, the Titans own the worst record in the AFC, and their offense has looked completely out of sync. The Jaguars didn’t just beat them - they dominated every phase of the game.
The Titans’ faithful, once treated to playoff runs and power football, are now watching a team that can’t seem to get out of its own way.
But the playoff picture isn’t done shifting just yet. The Las Vegas Raiders are teetering on the edge themselves.
At 2-9 and riding a five-game losing streak, they’ll need a win over the Chargers later Sunday to keep their faint postseason hopes alive. A loss would make them the fourth team eliminated this week - a stat nobody in that locker room wants to be part of.
Elsewhere, the New York Jets managed to stave off elimination - at least for now. Nick Folk’s clutch game-winning field goal against the Falcons gave the Jets a 3-9 record and a flicker of hope.
But the margin for error is razor-thin. They’ll need to beat the Dolphins next weekend in New Jersey to keep their playoff dream alive into Week 15.
It’s been a rocky road, but for now, they’re still in the fight.
The Washington Commanders are also still technically in the hunt, though their grip is slipping fast. At 3-8 after six straight losses, Jayden Daniels and company are desperate for a win against the Broncos in Sunday night’s late game.
A loss won’t officially eliminate them this week, but it would all but seal their fate. With a trip to Minnesota looming in Week 14, Washington needs to find answers - and fast.
And then there’s Cleveland. Sitting at 3-9 after a 26-8 beatdown at the hands of the 49ers, the Browns are facing a must-win scenario next weekend against the already-eliminated Titans. It’s a matchup between two teams with little left to lose - but for Cleveland, it’s also one of their last chances to keep the season alive.
Week 13 has been brutal for teams on the fringe, and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. For some, the road ends here. For others, the fight continues - but the margin for error is vanishing fast.