Every game counts at this stage, with some massive results in week 14 that might settle postseason positions come the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence presented a significant problem and may have concluded the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Hype
Three huge divisional battles lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his team to a hard-fought close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first rushing score in almost three years, however it was his deep passes to his star wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial chances—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two franchises will meet again on the last day of the season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a epic contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another late-game rally from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing weather.
The outcome gave one side a slender advantage in their division, while the losers dropped from the NFC's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
In Mahomes' 7 complete years as a starter, he has reached seven conference championship contests and five Super Bowls. That means the team has played almost each available game during his tenure.
So, the reasons for the current failure are evident and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several starters out.
Even then, the quarterback provided his team a fighting chance, however missed field goals and critical drops—such as on a pivotal fourth-down play—confirmed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the western divisions are building strong arguments for championship contention.
One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl played at this year's venue. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The other team, atop the NFC, showcased an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable running attack to complement an exceptional passing game.
A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pass rush of the elite defense—what would be a fascinating playoff matchup.
Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?
Amid the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end sparked talk about a possible departure.
Listening to Mahomes say, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do what he wants to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. Should the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion winner might decide to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all again for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw three scores and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's total touchdowns this season.
He is the first player in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty touchdown passes and ten running scores in three consecutive campaigns.
Now, he puts the team on his shoulders once more as they try to catch their division rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's precisely who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star wide receiver scored 2 scores and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
- An international placekicker helped his team in a upset victory in soggy weather.
- A offense that was shutout one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
- A struggling team saw its franchise QB return from injury, only to leave the game again with a related injury.
