A month stays within the NFL season, however about one-quarter of the league’s groups have already got their eyes set on 2025. Seven groups have been eradicated from playoff competition, and eight have three wins or fewer. For these groups, the following 4 weeks are about constructing for the longer term as groups vie for the No. 1 decide in subsequent 12 months’s NFL Draft.
The Jaguars’ win over the Tennessee Titans means Jacksonville has all however exited the race for the primary decide. Now 3-10 after the win, Jacksonville’s odds to choose No. 1 fell from 14 p.c on Dec. 6 to three p.c after Sunday.
The win now makes this a two-team race between the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders. Our fashions have the No. 1 decide going to those two groups in a mixed 76 p.c of outcomes. No different staff has larger than 10 p.c odds to safe the primary draft decide. The race is tight behind the Giants and Raiders, although. Six groups (Jacksonville, Tennessee, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers) are 3-10 with 4 video games left to play.
New York Giants (2-11)
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A late-game surge put the Giants in place to tie Sunday’s sport towards the New Orleans Saints with a 35-yard discipline aim with 11 seconds on the clock. A Giants extra time win would have probably jeopardized their spot atop the draft board. Instead, the Saints blocked Graham Gano’s kick, gained 14-11 and pushed the Giants into the motive force’s seat for the highest decide.
The full week of preparation wasn’t sufficient to make Drew Lock (21-for-49, 227 yards, one INT) seem like a profitable quarterback, regardless of the Giants’ protection holding an opponent to below 300 whole yards for simply the third time this season. New York now faces 4 groups nonetheless within the playoff dialog, the sixth-hardest remaining power of schedule within the league.
Remaining schedule: Baltimore Ravens, at Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, at Philadelphia Eagles.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
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Buccaneers take NFC South lead with 28-13 win over Raiders: Takeaways
Despite shedding their ninth straight sport of the season, the Raiders misplaced floor within the race for the No. 1 decide due to power of schedule. While the Giants have the sixth-highest power of schedule, Las Vegas’ remaining schedule ranks twenty sixth within the league over the past 4 weeks.
That might get balanced out by information from Sunday’s 28-13 loss to the Buccaneers: Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell was carted off the sector with a knee damage late within the third quarter. If O’Connell misses important time, it will go away the Raiders with third-string quarterback Desmond Ridder for the rest of the season.
Remaining schedule: Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, at New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers
New England Patriots (3-10)
The Patriots have been on a bye this week, and the one-game deficit within the race for the No. 1 decide means they’ll need assistance from different groups in the event that they hope to enhance their draft inventory. Assuming the Raiders and Giants each decide up wins to make this a race, New England has the second-hardest remaining schedule within the league to maintain it grounded.
Remaining schedule: at Arizona Cardinals, at Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills.
New York Jets (3-10)
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Dolphins hold playoff hopes alive with 32-26 OT win vs. Jets: Takeaways
The Jets’ extra time loss to the Dolphins saved them on this race, however all indicators level to them getting a minimum of yet another win over the following month. The Jets had a season-high 402 offensive yards Sunday, whereas Aaron Rodgers had his first 300-yard passing sport since December 2021.
That offensive surge comes because the Jets misplaced their third straight sport by six factors or fewer regardless of lacking key items on each side of the ball. The Jets are enjoying adequately, and their remaining schedule leaves the door open for a possible win.
Remaining schedule: at Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, at Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins.
Carolina Panthers (3-10)
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In phrases of tank jobs, the Panthers are operating nearly as good of an operation as one can. The Panthers have misplaced one-score video games to the Chiefs and Eagles in two of their final three video games, a balancing act that reveals competence whereas preserving draft inventory excessive.
The Panthers are additionally the one 3-10 staff not eradicated from playoff competition, placing them within the uncommon spot of concurrently competing for the No. 1 decide and a division title. Their final 4 video games can push them in both route.
Remaining schedule: Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at Atlanta Falcons.
Cleveland Browns (3-10)
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Two issues could be true on the similar time: The Browns are enjoying higher below Jameis Winston, and the Browns will stay within the operating for the highest decide for the remainder of the season.
The Browns have the fourth-hardest power of schedule remaining, enjoying all 4 video games towards groups nonetheless vying for a playoff berth. Playing Winston at quarterback offers them the highs essential to win video games and the lows wanted to maintain Cleveland with a longshot probability on the prime decide.
Remaining schedule: Kansas City Chiefs, at Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, at Baltimore Ravens.
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(Photo: Kathryn Riley / Getty Images)
