Each contest counts at this stage, with some massive outcomes in week 14 that could determine postseason positions come the conclusion of the campaign.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a major setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while Josh Allen virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence presented a massive problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Live Up To the Hype
A trio of massive divisional battles lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a tough 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first rushing touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his long throws to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—though they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on the last day of the season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the league witnessed a classic contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young quarterback in the frigid conditions.
This result handed one team a slender lead in their NFC North, while the losers fell from the conference's number one seed all the way to seventh.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections give the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
During Mahomes' 7 full years as a starter, he has advanced to seven conference championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. This means the team has competed in nearly every available contest throughout his time.
Therefore, the causes for this year's struggles are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already dodgy O-line, with multiple key players out.
Even then, Mahomes provided his team a chance, however missed kicks and costly drops—including on a key fourth down play—sealed their downfall.
In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
Two powerhouse teams from the western conferences are making compelling cases for championship favorites.
One team, atop their conference, won the last Super Bowl played at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and victories through methodical, long drives.
The second team, leading the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed running game to complement an exceptional passing attack.
A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offence could solve the smothering pass rush of the elite defense—what would be a must-watch playoff showdown.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing him state, "each year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do after this season," Mahomes added. Should the season ends prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl winner might choose to walk away.
Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines Week 15
Josh Allen put on a show again for his team in a wintry victory. He passed for 3 scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's total touchdowns this season.
Allen is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD passes and 10 rushing scores in three consecutive seasons.
Now, he puts the team on his back once more as they try to catch their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—and, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.
Key Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star receiver caught 2 scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end recorded his 20th sack of the season, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
- 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 bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A reeling team saw its star quarterback return from injury, only to leave the game once more with a similar injury.
