Each game counts from here on in, with a number of huge outcomes in week 14 that may settle postseason positions come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers landed a significant setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen all-but finished Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense posed a significant problem and may have ended the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Hype
Three massive rivalry games delivered.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his team to a tough 27-22 victory in Baltimore. He scored his initial running touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his deep passes to his top receiver that made the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson was out of sync as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key chances—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being overturned. These franchises will meet again on the final day of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running feud in the NFL witnessed a classic encounter. Despite touchdown bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the freezing conditions.
The outcome handed one team a slender advantage in their division, while the defeated team plummeted from the conference's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. Realistically, this will be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
During his 7 full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. This indicates the club has played nearly each possible game throughout his time.
Therefore, the reasons for this year's struggles are apparent and were summed up during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with multiple key players missing.
Despite that, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, however missed field goals and costly drops—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the western divisions are making compelling cases for Super Bowl contention.
One squad, atop their conference, won the last Super Bowl played at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The other contender, leading the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offense capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable running game to pair with an exceptional passing attack.
The question could be whether the high-flying offence can solve the smothering pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating potential showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled speculation about a possible departure.
Hearing him state, "every season... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do following this season," he added. Should the year ends early for the team, the 3x champion veteran could decide to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback did it all again for Buffalo in a wintry victory. He threw three scores and ran for another, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's total scores this season.
Allen is the only quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD throws and ten rushing scores in three consecutive campaigns.
Next, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they aim to catch their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's precisely who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star receiver caught two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset victory in soggy conditions.
- A team that was shutout one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A reeling franchise saw its franchise quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the game again with a related ailment.
