Each contest is crucial from here on in, with several enormous outcomes in week 14 that might decide postseason berths come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually ended Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence presented a massive problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Expectations
A trio of massive division clashes did not disappoint.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, steered his team to a hard-fought close win in on the road. He scored his first rushing score in almost three years, but it was his long passes to his top wideout that proved to be the difference.
Lamar Jackson was out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were left fuming by a late score being nullified. The two franchises will meet again on the last weekend of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defense had to halt another late-game comeback from the visiting young QB in the frigid conditions.
This outcome handed one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the losers plummeted from the conference's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. Realistically, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.
In Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship contests and five championship games. That means the team has played nearly every available game during his time.
Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are evident and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already struggling offensive line, with multiple key players missing.
Even then, the quarterback provided his team a chance, but failed kicks and crucial drops—such as on a key fourth down play—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of top contenders from the West Coast conferences are building strong cases for championship favorites.
One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the last Super Bowl held at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through methodical, time-consuming drives.
The second contender, atop the other conference, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable ground attack to complement an exceptional aerial game.
The question would be whether the potent offence could withstand the smothering pass rush of the top defense—what would be a fascinating potential showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate fueled speculation about a potential retirement.
Hearing him say, "each season... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the option to do whatever he wants to do following this season," he continued. If the year concludes early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might choose to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for his team in a wintry win. He threw three scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the first player in league history with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD throws and ten running scores in three straight seasons.
Now, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's precisely who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star wide receiver caught two touchdowns and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his 20th sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
- An overseas kicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
- A reeling franchise watched its star QB come back from injury, only to leave the game once more with a similar ailment.
