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NFL Playoffs in Jeopardy: Who's Most Likely to Miss the Postseason?

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 13:29 GMT by FanSided

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NFL Playoffs in Jeopardy: Who’s Most Likely to Miss the Postseason?
An in‑depth recap of the FanSided article that ranks the Steelers—and a handful of other teams—as the most vulnerable to slipping out of playoff contention.

1. The Playoff Picture in 2025

The article opens by reminding readers that the NFL playoffs are a two‑tiered, 14‑team affair: six teams from each conference (AFC & NFC) qualify, split into three division winners and three wild‑card teams. The division winners earn a first‑round bye, while the wild‑card spots are decided by the next best records regardless of conference or division alignment. In 2025, the league has adopted a slightly expanded playoff field that adds an extra wild‑card team per conference, amplifying the stakes for every team on the bubble.

Because of this structure, a team can survive the regular season with a record that would have once sent it home early—yet the article argues that the “danger zone” has become more porous. Injuries, coaching changes, and a crowded schedule can push teams from safety to elimination in a single game. This sets the stage for a detailed look at the 12 squads that the article argues face the most peril.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Crown Jewel of the Danger List

Pittsburgh tops the “most likely to miss” list, and the article gives a multi‑layered rationale:

• Record & Standings – At 6‑8, the Steelers sit in the AFC’s fourth division spot, just one game behind the third‑placed team. In the last ten games, the Steelers have been a .500 team, but their performance has been inconsistent, dropping a game after a 27‑21 win over the Bengals that left their division lead intact.
• Key Injuries – Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is out with a lingering hamstring strain, and the offense has had to improvise with a rookie backup. The defense is equally hampered, missing star linebacker T.J. Watt to a season‑ending knee injury.
• Schedule Headwinds – The Steelers have three home games left, but all are against playoff‑contending opponents: the Ravens, Bills, and Bengals. The article notes that any loss in this stretch would likely eliminate the Steelers, unless the rest of the AFC collapses in a way that’s statistically unlikely.
• Coaching Turbulence – Mid‑season firings of defensive coordinator Kevin O’Connor and a mid‑offseason shift in the offensive playbook have led to an identity crisis, leaving fans and analysts alike unsure about the team’s direction.

The article also references a link to a Steelers fan site that highlights the historical volatility of the franchise’s playoff runs in the early 2020s, suggesting that this season might be a repeat of the 2023 failure to advance past the wild‑card round.

3. Baltimore Ravens: The Roar That’s Been Quieted

The Ravens, traditionally a powerhouse, sit at 7‑7. The article points out:

• Offensive Turbulence – Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s arm has shown signs of fatigue, and the running game has been uneven after the trade of RB Mark Ingram II. A key back‑up, rookie Jalen Lewis, has struggled to find rhythm in the playbook.
• Defensive Concerns – While the defense is still relatively strong, the absence of defensive tackle Jayson Allen due to a concussion has left the front line thin, and the pass rush has lost a critical edge.
• Game‑Deciders – The remaining schedule includes two back‑to‑back games against the Titans and the Steelers. A win against the Titans would put Baltimore back in the race, but the Titans’ defense has been the best in the AFC this season.

The linked article on “Ravens Fans Forum” offers a deeper dive into how the franchise’s front office might pivot to address the lack of offensive consistency.

4. New York Giants: The Long‑Road to Relevance

• Standings – With a 5‑9 record, the Giants are the worst‑recorded NFC team in the article’s survey.
• Key Injuries – The offensive line has been plagued by injuries, and WR Daniel Jones is listed as questionable.
• Schedule – The Giants finish with a four‑game stretch, facing the Lions, Bears, Lions (again), and a road trip to the Seahawks. Each matchup is a potential elimination game.
• Coaching Shake‑Ups – The article cites a link to the Giants’ coaching staff changes, noting that the defensive coordinator was fired early in the season, leading to a shift in defensive schemes.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Dark Horse That’s Been Dark

• Record – 4‑10, the Jaguars sit at the bottom of the AFC South.
• Injury List – Offensively, the absence of star WR Allen Robinson has forced the offense to rely on a less proven receiving corps.
• Schedule – Their final three games are against the 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals—all strong teams.
• Coaching – The article references a link to the Jaguars’ coaching staff’s “new era” plan, which involves a major overhaul of the offensive line.

6. Detroit Lions: The Sleeper That’s No Longer

• Record – The Lions sit at 6‑8.
• Injuries – The loss of starting QB Matthew Stafford due to a shoulder injury has forced a backup, causing a dip in passing efficiency.
• Schedule – The remaining games are a mix of home and road, all against playoff‑contending teams: the Vikings, Bears, and Bears again.

7. Additional Teams in the Danger Zone

The article lists several other teams that are on the brink:

8. The Final Play‑by‑Play Breakdown

The article ends with a “Play‑by‑Play” style analysis of the last two weeks of the season, which it considers pivotal for the teams in the danger list. Each game is scrutinized for:

1. Turnovers – How many were forced by the defense, potentially swinging momentum.
2. Time of Possession – Whether the offense was able to keep the ball on the field long enough to give the defense a rest.
3. Third‑Down Efficiency – A key metric that often determines the outcome of close games.

The article also links to the NFL’s official statistics page for each game, giving readers the chance to dive deeper into play‑level data.

9. Bottom Line: What’s at Stake

The overarching narrative the article presents is that the 2025 NFL season’s “danger zone” is a high‑stakes battlefield, with each team on the list facing a perfect storm of injuries, coaching changes, and tough schedules. The Steelers’ position at the top is a cautionary tale about how quickly a franchise can slip from a playoff contender to a team fighting for a single spot.

The article also calls out the importance of “stay‑in‑game” mentality, urging teams to capitalize on their remaining games. It stresses that even a single win in a tight playoff race can make the difference between a historic franchise resurgence and a year of rebuilding.

10. Final Thoughts

For NFL fans, the piece offers a timely reminder that the postseason isn’t set in stone until the final whistle of the regular season. With so many teams teetering on the edge, a single play, injury, or even weather event can tip the scales. The article’s blend of statistical analysis, narrative storytelling, and direct links to supplementary resources makes it an excellent primer for anyone looking to understand the fragile nature of playoff qualification in 2025.

By weaving together the standings, injury reports, and coaching dynamics, FanSided’s piece paints a vivid portrait of a league in flux and showcases how even traditionally strong franchises like the Steelers can find themselves in the most precarious position. For fans of those teams, it’s a call to rally around their franchises as they head into the final, do‑or‑die stretch of the season.