Each contest matters from here on in, with several massive results in week 14 that may settle postseason spots come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers landed a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off hopes, while Josh Allen all-but terminated Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defense presented a significant problem and may have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Hype
Three critical division clashes did not disappoint.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a gritty close victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial running touchdown in nearly three years, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on key opportunities—although they were frustrated by a late score being chalked off. These teams will meet once more on the last weekend of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to stop another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie quarterback in the frigid conditions.
This result handed one side a slender lead in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team fell from the NFC's top spot down to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.
In his 7 full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and five championship games. This means the club has competed in almost each possible game during his time.
So, the reasons for the current struggles are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already dodgy O-line, with multiple starters missing.
Even then, Mahomes gave his team a chance, however missed kicks and critical drops—such as on a pivotal fourth down attempt—confirmed their fate.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?
Two top teams from the western conferences are building compelling cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the most recent title held at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defence that tops the league in sacks and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The second contender, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable ground game to complement an elite passing game.
A key matchup could be whether the potent offense can withstand the smothering pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff matchup.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled speculation about a potential departure.
Listening to him state, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he wants to do after this campaign," he continued. Should the season ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time champion veteran could decide to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all again for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering portion of his offense's total touchdowns this year.
He is the only player in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, twenty TD throws and ten rushing scores in three consecutive campaigns.
Now, he puts the team on his back once more as they aim to catch their division rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face next.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
- A prolific receiver scored 2 scores and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in rainy conditions.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A struggling franchise watched its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a related injury.
