Arizona Cardinals officially eliminated from postseason contention

The Arizona Cardinals fell to 3-9 on the season when they lost 20-17 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. It was their fourth consecutive loss and their ninth in the last 10 games.

At this point, no one was thinking the Cardinals had a chance to make the postseason. However, it is now official.

They were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention with the loss.

Cardinals eliminated from postseason contention in Week 13

It is early enough that nobody in the NFL could clinch a playoff berth. As such, the league has not begun to release playoff scenarios.

However, one X/Twitter account is expert on playoff-clinching and playoff-eliminating scenarios. The Cardinals needed three things to happen to be eliminated this week.

1. A loss to the Bucs

2. A win by the Green Bay Packers over the Detroit Lions

3. A win or tie by the Chicago Bears against the Philadelphia Eagles.

All three happened.

On Thursday, the Packers beat the Lions 24-21. On Friday, the Bears knocked off the Eagles 24-15. On Sunday, the Cardinals wrapped up the scenario with the 20-17 loss.

To make things worse, this is the earliest the Cardinals have been eliminated from postseason contention since they moved to Arizona — considering how many absolute garbage seasons the Cardinals have had in their time in Arizona, that says something.

Per the same X account, it is the earliest elimination since 1986. They went 4-11-1 that season.

Is there a way for this coaching staff to survive this season, especially since expectations were that they would be a playoff team and potentially compete for the division title. They are six games behind everyone else in the division.

What else can be said? This has been a historically disappointing season.

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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals officially eliminated from postseason contention