The season is over for 17 NFL teams and there is a 4-way race for the top pick in the 2019 draft
The season is over for 17 NFL teams and there is a 4-way race for the top pick in the 2019 draft
There are two weeks remaining in the NFL season, but for some teams, it is already over, and it is time to start looking towards the 2019 NFL Draft.
Whether it is a lack of talent, some key injuries, or just plain ol' bad luck, there are already 17 teams that have been effectively eliminated from playoff contention. Of those, four are in a race for the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft with the Arizona Cardinals in the lead.
Here are the 17 teams that won't make the playoffs, ranked by the chances to receive the top pick in the 2019 draft.
1. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 3-11
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0%(officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 74.5%
One thing to know: If the Cardinals lose their final two games, they would have the first pick in the draft based on the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker over the Raiders.
2. Oakland Raiders
Record: 3-11
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0%(officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 17.5%
One thing to know: The Raiders have three picks in the first round of the 2019 Draft. Their own will almost certainly be in the top five. Also, they have first-rounders from the Bears and the Cowboys. They will also have a new GM as they fired this week.
3. New York Jets
Record: 4-10
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0%(officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 4.3%
One thing to know: The Jets are 1-7 in their last eight games, but the win over the Bills was costly. If the Jets had lost, they would be tied for the top pick in the draft, and they would likely win the tiebreaker over the Cardinals and the Raiders.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 4-10
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0%(officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 3.6%
One thing to know: The 49ers would also likely win a tiebreaker over the Cardinals and Raiders, but they have won three of their last six games to hurt their chances.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 4-10
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0%(officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0.1%
One thing to know: Before the season, the Jags had the 8th best odds to win the Super Bowl. Now they still have an outside shot at the top pick in the draft.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 5-9
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0% (officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: The Falcons had lost five in a row and scored an average of 17.6 points per game during that stretch before scoring 40 against the Cardinals. It was just the seventh time they scored more than 20 points this season.
7. Buffalo Bills
Record: 5-9
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0%(officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: Josh Allen averaged 112 yards rushing over the Bills' previous three games. He only had 16 yards in the win over the Lions, but he did score his sixth rushing TD in the last eight games.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 5-9
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0% (officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: The latest version of Jameis Winston appears to have matured and mellowed as he is doing less rah-rahing and more leading by example. The defense has also improved greatly in recent weeks.
9. New York Giants
Record: 5-9
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0% (officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: The Giants had won four of their last five before being shut out by the Titans.
10. Detroit Lions
Record: 5-9
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0% (officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: By the end of this season, the Lions will have paid Matthew Stafford $178.3 million, making him one of the ten highest-paid players in NFL history. He has never won a playoff game.
11. Green Bay Packers
Record: 5-8-1
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0% (officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: The Packers' loss to the Bears ended any faint playoff hopes fans were holding on to. Now it looks like Aaron Rodgers will take at least a week off to deal with an injury.
12. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 6-8
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0% (officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: The Bengals were 5-4 when they hired Hue Jackson as a special assistant. They are 1-4 since, including a loss to his former Browns team.
13. Denver Broncos
Record: 6-8
538's chance to make the playoffs: 0% (officially eliminated)
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: The Broncos kept their faint playoff hopes alive with wins over the Chargers and Steelers. Since then, they have lost to the 49ers and Browns, scoring a total of 30 points in the two games.
14. Cleveland Browns
Record: 6-7-1
538's chance to make the playoffs: <1%
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know:The Browns are legitimately about four plays away from being 10-4.
15. Carolina Panthers
Record: 6-8
538's chance to make the playoffs: <1%
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know:The Panther were 6-2 and considered a Super Bowl contender halfway through the season. They have now lost six in a row and Cam Newton does not look healthy.
16. Miami Dolphins
Record: 7-7
538's chance to make the playoffs: 5%
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know:The Dolphins are mathematically still alive for the final wild-card spot in the AFC, but at 7-7, they are behind three teams that are all 8-6. Tt least one of those teams is probably going 2-0 in the final two weeks.
17. Washington Redskins
Record: 7-7
538's chance to make the playoffs: 11%
DVOA's chance to get first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: 0%
One thing to know: Mathematically, the Redskins are still in a good spot. But let's face it, they are now on their fourth starting quarterback, and he had to play Madden three weeks ago to learn the names of his new teammates.
Now check out some players to pick up in fantasy football.
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