🔗 Share this article

Every contest is crucial at this stage, with some huge conclusions in the fourteenth week that might settle postseason spots by the conclusion of the year.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a major setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Hype

A trio of huge rivalry games delivered.

Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his first rushing touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his top receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team missed key opportunities—though they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. These franchises will meet once more on the last weekend of the season.

Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the league saw a epic encounter. Even with scoring deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie quarterback in the freezing conditions.

This result gave one side a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team plummeted from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.

Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.

In Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship contests and five championship games. This means the club has played nearly every available contest during his time.

Therefore, the causes for this year's failure are apparent and were summed up during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with several starters missing.

Even then, the quarterback provided his team a chance, but failed field goals and crucial drops—such as on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?

Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are making strong arguments for Super Bowl contention.

One team, atop their conference, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The other contender, atop the other conference, showcased an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable running attack to pair with an exceptional aerial attack.

The question could be whether the potent offence can handle the smothering pressure of the elite defense—a a must-watch potential matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits?

Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end fueled speculation about a potential departure.

Hearing him say, "each season... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do following this campaign," he continued. Should the season concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy win. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his team's total scores this year.

He is the only player in league history with 3,000 pass yards, 20 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in three straight campaigns.

Next, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their division foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they play this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

• Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
• A star receiver caught two touchdowns and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
• An international kicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise win in soggy weather.
• A team that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A struggling team watched its franchise quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a related injury.