Each game counts from here on in, with a number of massive outcomes in week 14 that might decide postseason berths by the end of the year.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers struck a big setback to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense posed a massive challenge and could have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Anticipation
A trio of huge rivalry games delivered.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty 27-22 win in on the road. He recorded his first running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his deep passes to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as his team missed crucial opportunities—though they were angry by a late touchdown being chalked off. These franchises will meet again on the final weekend of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL saw a thrilling encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another late-game comeback from the visiting rookie quarterback in the frigid conditions.
This result handed one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the losers fell from the conference's top spot down to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.
During his 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship games and 5 championship games. This indicates the club has played almost every possible game throughout his time.
Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are evident and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy offensive line, with multiple key players out.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a chance, but missed kicks and costly dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the West?
Two powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are building strong arguments for championship favorites.
One team, atop their conference, won the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.
The other contender, atop the other conference, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a two-headed running game to pair with an exceptional passing game.
The question could be whether the high-flying offence could withstand the relentless pressure of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch playoff showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate sparked talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing Mahomes say, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly sounded like the QB was bracing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.
"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," he continued. If the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion veteran could choose to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all once more for his team in a wintry victory. He threw 3 scores and ran for another, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's overall touchdowns this year.
Allen is the only quarterback in league history with three thousand passing yards, twenty TD throws and 10 running scores in three consecutive campaigns.
Next, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver scored two scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record.
- An international placekicker helped his squad in a surprise victory in soggy conditions.
- A offense that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A struggling team saw its star quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a similar injury.
