The NFL playoff picture is slowly becoming clearer, particularly regarding the three wild card spots in each conference.
Two teams saw their playoff hopes dashed on Sunday after suffering crucial losses, failing to step up when it mattered most.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders faced the surging San Francisco 49ers in a matchup that felt like a throwback to their fierce Bay Area rivalry. With Jarrett Stidham replacing the benched Derek Carr, Las Vegas held a 10-point lead early in the third quarter.
However, they couldn’t stop 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who led his team with consistent play. The game went into overtime, where Stidham’s interception set up Robbie Gould’s game-winning field goal for San Francisco.
That loss officially eliminated the Raiders from playoff contention, marking yet another instance this season where they either blew a sizable lead or lost a close game.
New York Jets
After a promising 7-4 start, the Jets appeared poised to make a playoff run, but their season took a downturn with a four-game losing streak.
Heading into Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, they needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Facing former quarterback Geno Smith, who is enjoying a breakout year, the Jets faltered, failing to score in the second half and losing 23-6.
With that loss, the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention and now face an offseason filled with tough questions, especially regarding their ongoing quarterback situation.
