Each contest matters from here on in, with a number of huge conclusions in week 14 that could settle postseason berths by the conclusion of the campaign.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas Josh Allen virtually ended Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant challenge and may have ended the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Deciders Exceed the Expectations
A trio of huge divisional battles lived up to the hype.
Veteran quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a tough 27-22 win in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running score in nearly three seasons, but it was his long throws to his top wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—though they were frustrated by a late touchdown being chalked off. These franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the final weekend of the season.
In another, the oldest feud in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Despite touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game comeback from the visiting young quarterback in the frigid weather.
The result handed one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a 15% probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
In his seven full years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to seven conference championship contests and five championship games. That means the club has competed in almost every possible game during his tenure.
So, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were highlighted during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable O-line, with several starters missing.
Even then, Mahomes gave his team a chance, however missed kicks and crucial dropped passes—such as on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?
Two powerhouse teams from the western conferences are building compelling cases for Super Bowl contention.
One team, atop their conference, claimed the last title held at February's venue. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the league in sacks and victories through grinding, long drives.
The second contender, leading the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed ground attack to pair with an elite aerial game.
The question could be whether the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pressure of the top defense—what would be a must-watch playoff showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled speculation about a potential retirement.
Listening to Mahomes say, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this season," he added. Should the year concludes early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner could choose to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for his team in a snowy victory. He threw three scores and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable portion of his team's total scores this year.
Allen is the first player in NFL history with three thousand passing yards, 20 TD passes and 10 rushing scores in three straight campaigns.
Next, he puts the Bills on his back once more as they try to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—and, they are exactly who they face this coming Sunday.
Key Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star receiver caught 2 scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth sack of the season, moving within reach of the single-season record.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling team saw its franchise QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest once more with a similar ailment.
