The playoff picture is becoming clearer after several big-name teams dropped out of the postseason race on Sunday.

Both the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention before either took the field on Sunday. While both franchises would have needed a lot of help and a perfect finish to make it to the playoffs after their disappointing start to the season, any hope of that is now officially gone.

The 49ers, who reached the Super Bowl last season, struggled with several injuries throughout the year, including to star running back Christian McCaffrey. Ultimately, he played in just four games that season, initially battling an Achilles tendon injury and then a knee injury. San Francisco entered Sunday’s game after the Miami Dolphins had lost four of their last five games and were in last place in the NFC West standings.

The Cowboys aren’t last in the NFC East – the New York Giants have secured that position – but their season hasn’t been much better. They will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night with a record of 6-8. Although they have won three of their last four games despite losing quarterback Dak Prescott to a season-ending hamstring injury, their push came too late. The Cowboys, who lost five straight games and their first five home games earlier this fall, will miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season.

The Baltimore Ravens also secured a playoff spot, their third straight, with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. This win also prevented the Steelers from winning the AFC North.

Here’s a look at the state of the playoffs midway through Week 16 of the NFL season.

NFC playoff picture

This is what the playoff race in the NFC looks like starting December 22nd. Teams with an asterisk still have to play in Week 16. Teams in bold have secured a spot in the playoffs.

1. Detroit Lions (13-2)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3) vs. 7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)* vs. 6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)*

4. Los Angeles Rams (9-6) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)*

On the bubble

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)*

10. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

AFC playoff image

This is what the AFC playoff race looks like on December 22nd. Teams with an asterisk still have to play in Week 16. Teams in bold have secured a spot in the playoffs.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)* against 7. Denver Broncos (9-6)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

4. Houston Texans (9-6) vs. 5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

On the bubble

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

9.Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

10. Miami Dolphins (6-8)*

Complete NFC rankings

As of December 22nd, here is the state of play in the NFC. The teams in bold have secured a spot in the playoffs. Teams in italics are eliminated from the playoffs. Teams with an asterisk still have to play in Week 16.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)

2. Washington Commanders (10-5)

3. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)*

4. New York Giants (2-13)

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions (13-2)

2. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)*

3. Green Bay Packers (10-4)*

4. Chicago Bears (4-11)

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)*

2. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

3. New Orleans Saints (5-9)*

4. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)*

2. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

3. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

4. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)*

Complete AFC rankings

Here is the state of play in the AFC as of December 22nd. The teams in bold have secured a spot in the playoffs. Teams in italics are eliminated from the playoffs. Teams with an asterisk still have to play in Week 16.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills (11-3)*

2. Miami Dolphins (6-8)*

3. New York Jets (4-11)

4. New England Patriots (3-11)*

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

2. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

3.Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

4. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

AFC South

1. Houston Texans (9-6)

2. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

3. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)*

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)

2. Denver Broncos (9-6)

3. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)*

NFL Draft Order

While there will likely be a lot of movement here in the coming weeks, the Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 1 pick in next spring’s draft.

Here’s what the top of the draft order looks like after Week 15. This will be updated ahead of Sunday Night Football between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.

1. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

2. New York Giants (2-12)

3. New England Patriots (3-11)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)

5. Carolina Panthers (3-11)

6. Tennessee Titans (3-11)

7. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

8. New York Jets (4-10)

9. Chicago Bears (4-10)

10. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

12. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

13.Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

14. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)

15. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

16. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)

17. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

18. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

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19. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)

21. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

22. Washington Commanders (9-5)

23. Denver Broncos (9-5)

24. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

25. Houston Texans (9-5)

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)

27. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

28. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)

29. Buffalo Bills (11-3)

30. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)

31. Detroit Lions (12-2)

32. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)