🔗 Share this article

Every contest matters down the stretch, with some enormous results in week 14 that may decide postseason berths by the conclusion of the year.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence posed a massive problem and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Hype

A trio of massive rivalry games lived up to the hype.

Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his team to a hard-fought close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his long passes to his top wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key opportunities—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being overturned. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on the last day of the regular season.

In another, the oldest rivalry in the league witnessed a epic encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the freezing conditions.

The result handed one team a narrow lead in their division, while the defeated team fell from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.

In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections assign the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

During Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and five championship games. This indicates the team has played nearly each possible game during his time.

Therefore, the causes for this year's failure are evident and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Injuries ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with multiple key players out.

Even then, Mahomes provided his team a chance, however missed field goals and crucial drops—including on a key fourth down play—sealed their fate.

Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the West?

A pair of powerhouse contenders from the West Coast divisions are building compelling cases for Super Bowl contention.

One team, leading their conference, won the last title held at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the league in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.

The second team, leading the other conference, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running game to complement an exceptional aerial attack.

The question could be whether the high-flying offence can withstand the smothering pressure of the top defensive unit—a a fascinating potential matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?

Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end fueled rumors about a possible departure.

Hearing Mahomes state, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," he added. If the season ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl winner could choose to retire.

Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy victory. Allen passed for 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his offense's total touchdowns this season.

He is the first quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, 20 touchdown throws and 10 rushing scores in 3 straight seasons.

Now, he puts the Bills on his back again as they try to catch their division foes, the Patriots—and, they are exactly who they face this coming Sunday.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs

Week 14 Statistical Highlights

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific receiver scored two scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
• An overseas kicker helped his squad in a upset victory in rainy weather.
• A team that was shutout one game responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A struggling team watched its star quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to leave the game once more with a similar injury.