According to NFL tiebreaker expert Joe Ferreria, this marks the earliest playoff exit for New York since 1976, when the team moved into then-Giants Stadium. Moreover, it also marks the earliest exit from playoff contention in the NFL since 2020.

If the Giants lose as a heavy underdog Sunday to the Lions, they will become the NFL’s first team eliminated from playoff contention if any of the following results also happen: a Seahawks win or tie as heavy favorites against the Titans, a Vikings win against the Packers or a Cowboys win against the Eagles.

Updated 2026 NFL Draft order: Titans, Giants on pace to claim top selections after Week 12 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. With a third of the season left to play, plenty of teams are hoping to assert themselves as postseason contenders. Others are dreaming of spring.

Here are all the latest happenings around the league as we enter the holiday season and the home stretch of the regular season.

The New York Giants have had a miserable 2025 season, and as a result, will have the chance to add an elite player early in the 2026 draft.