Each contest counts from here on in, with some huge conclusions in week 14 that might decide postseason positions come the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers landed a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a huge problem and could have concluded the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Anticipation
Three huge divisional battles did not disappoint.
Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a tough close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his initial running touchdown in nearly three seasons, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson seemed off rhythm as Baltimore missed key chances—although they were angry by a late touchdown being chalked off. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a thrilling encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game comeback from the opposing rookie quarterback in the freezing weather.
This outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their NFC North, while the losers plummeted from the conference's top spot down to seventh.
Analysis: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Kansas City only a 15% chance of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.
During his 7 complete years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the club has competed in almost every possible contest throughout his time.
So, the reasons for the current failure are apparent and were summed up during the recent loss. Absences ravaged an already questionable O-line, with several starters out.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his team a chance, however failed field goals and crucial dropped passes—including on a key fourth-down play—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
A pair of top teams from the West Coast conferences are building strong cases for Super Bowl contention.
One team, leading their conference, claimed the most recent title played at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the league in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.
The second team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed ground attack to complement an exceptional passing attack.
The question could be whether the potent offense could handle the smothering pressure of the top defense—what would be a must-watch playoff showdown.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end fueled speculation about a possible departure.
Listening to Mahomes state, "each year... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the option to do what he chooses to do after this season," he added. Should the season concludes early for the team, the 3x champion veteran might decide to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15
Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy victory. Allen threw 3 scores and ran for another, accounting for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this year.
He is the first quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand passing yards, 20 TD throws and ten running scores in 3 consecutive seasons.
Next, he puts the team on his back again as they aim to chase down their division foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face next.
Key Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A star wide receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
- An overseas kicker helped his squad in a upset victory in soggy conditions.
- A team that was shutout one game responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise saw its star quarterback return from injury, only to exit the contest again with a similar injury.
