Every matchup matters from here on in, with a number of enormous outcomes in week 14 that may determine postseason positions by the end of the season.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a huge challenge and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation
A trio of critical rivalry games delivered.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his team to a gritty 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial running touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his top receiver that made the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. These teams are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running feud in the NFL witnessed a classic encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another late-game rally from the visiting young QB in the freezing conditions.
This outcome gave one side a narrow advantage in their division, while the losers plummeted from the conference's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
In Mahomes' seven complete seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship contests and five championship games. That means the team has competed in almost each available game throughout his time.
So, the reasons for the current failure are evident and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already questionable O-line, with several key players out.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his team a chance, however missed kicks and critical dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth down play—confirmed their fate.
In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of top teams from the western divisions are making strong arguments for championship favorites.
One squad, leading their the AFC, won the last title held at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The second team, leading the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a formidable running attack to pair with an elite aerial attack.
The question could be if the high-flying offense can handle the smothering pass rush of the elite defensive unit—what would be a fascinating potential matchup.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate sparked speculation about a potential retirement.
Listening to him state, "every year... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do following this campaign," Mahomes added. Should the year ends prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl veteran might choose to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw three scores and ran for one more, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his offense's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the only player in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and ten rushing touchdowns in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star wide receiver caught two scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise victory in rainy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
- A reeling team saw its star QB return from an elbow issue, only to leave the game again with a related injury.
