Each contest counts from here on in, with some enormous conclusions in week 14 that could determine postseason positions come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers struck a major setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a huge problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Hype
A trio of massive rivalry games did not disappoint.
Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 win in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running score in almost three seasons, however it was his deep passes to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key opportunities—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter touchdown being overturned. These franchises will meet again on the final day of the season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a classic encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the freezing conditions.
The outcome gave one side a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team dropped from the conference's top spot all the way to seventh.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.
During Mahomes' seven full years as a starter, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship games and 5 championship games. This means the team has played nearly every available contest during his tenure.
So, the causes for the current failure are evident and were summed up during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with several starters out.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his team a chance, but missed kicks and critical dropped passes—including on a decisive fourth down play—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?
Two powerhouse contenders from the West Coast conferences are making strong cases for championship contention.
One team, leading their conference, claimed the last title played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The other team, atop the other conference, showcased an high-powered offense capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable ground game to complement an elite passing attack.
The question would be if the potent offence could handle the smothering pass rush of the top defense—a a fascinating potential matchup.
Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate sparked talk about a potential departure.
Listening to him say, "each season... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the option to do what he chooses to do following this season," he added. Should the year ends early for the Chiefs, the three-time champion veteran could choose to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15
Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a snowy victory. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering percentage of his offense's total touchdowns this season.
He is the only quarterback in league annals with 3,000 passing yards, twenty touchdown passes and 10 running touchdowns in 3 consecutive seasons.
Next, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A prolific receiver caught 2 scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
- An overseas placekicker helped his team in a surprise win in rainy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling franchise watched its star QB return from injury, only to exit the game once more with a related injury.
