Every contest is crucial down the stretch, with some huge results in week 14 that may settle postseason berths come the end of the year.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers struck a significant blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a huge challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever before in the Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Expectations
Three huge rivalry games lived up to the hype.
Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his squad to a tough 27-22 win in on the road. He scored his initial rushing score in nearly three years, but it was his long passes to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as Baltimore missed key opportunities—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. The two teams will meet once more on the final weekend of the regular season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the league saw a classic encounter. Despite scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to stop another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing young quarterback in the freezing weather.
This outcome gave one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.
During Mahomes' 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship games and five championship games. This indicates the team has competed in nearly every possible contest during his tenure.
So, the reasons for this year's struggles are apparent and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already dodgy offensive line, with several starters out.
Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a chance, however missed kicks and costly drops—including on a decisive fourth-down play—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
Two top contenders from the western divisions are building compelling cases for championship favorites.
One team, leading their conference, claimed the last Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, long drives.
The other team, atop the NFC, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable running attack to complement an elite passing attack.
A key matchup would be whether the high-flying offense can handle the smothering pass rush of the top defense—what would be a fascinating potential showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end sparked rumors about a possible retirement.
Listening to him state, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," he added. If the year ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl veteran could choose to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a snowy victory. Allen threw three scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's overall scores this year.
He is the first player in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and ten running touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
Next, he puts the team on his back again as they aim to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face next.
Key Week 15 Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star wide receiver caught 2 touchdowns and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant pass rusher notched his twentieth QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
- An overseas kicker helped his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling franchise watched its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game once more with a related injury.
