Every contest matters from here on in, with some massive conclusions in week 14 that could settle postseason berths come the end of the season.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback struck a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually ended Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defence posed a massive problem and may have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Live Up To the Hype
A trio of massive divisional battles did not disappoint.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a tough 27-22 win in on the road. He notched his initial rushing touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—though they were left fuming by a late score being nullified. These teams are scheduled to face off again on the final day of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a classic encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to thwart another late-game comeback from the opposing rookie quarterback in the frigid conditions.
The outcome handed one side a slender advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers fell from the conference's number one seed all the way to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections give the Chiefs only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.
In his seven full years as a starter, he has reached 7 conference championship games and 5 championship games. This means the club has competed in almost each available contest throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the causes for the current failure are evident and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Absences decimated an already questionable O-line, with several key players missing.
Even then, Mahomes provided his squad a chance, but failed field goals and critical dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall.
In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast divisions are building compelling arguments for Super Bowl contention.
One squad, atop their the AFC, won the most recent title played at this year's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The other contender, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a two-headed ground attack to complement an exceptional aerial attack.
A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pass rush of the top defensive unit—what would be a fascinating potential showdown.
Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?
Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate sparked talk about a possible retirement.
Hearing him say, "each year... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do what he wants to do after this season," he added. Should the season ends early for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl winner could decide to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen passed for three scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his offense's total scores this year.
Allen is the first quarterback in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty touchdown throws and 10 running scores in 3 straight seasons.
Next, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they try to chase down their division foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face this coming Sunday.
Key Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver caught 2 touchdowns and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end recorded his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An overseas placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise watched its franchise QB return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest once more with a related ailment.
