Every contest matters from here on in, with several huge results in week 14 that might decide postseason berths come the end of the season.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense posed a significant problem and could have concluded the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Hype
A trio of huge divisional battles lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty close victory in on the road. He notched his initial rushing touchdown in almost three years, but it was his deep throws to his star wideout that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being overturned. The two teams will meet again on the last day of the season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a classic contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game comeback from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.
This result gave one side a slender lead in their NFC North, while the defeated team plummeted from the conference's top spot down to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.
During Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. This indicates the team has competed in nearly every possible game throughout his tenure.
So, the causes for this year's struggles are evident and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with multiple starters missing.
Even then, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, however missed field goals and costly dropped passes—such as on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of top contenders from the western conferences are making strong cases for championship favorites.
One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The other team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a two-headed ground attack to complement an exceptional passing game.
A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offense could solve the relentless pass rush of the top defense—a a fascinating playoff matchup.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?
Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end sparked rumors about a potential retirement.
Hearing Mahomes say, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely sounded 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," Mahomes added. If the season concludes early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner could decide to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all again for Buffalo in a snowy win. Allen threw 3 touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's overall scores this season.
He is the first quarterback in league annals with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and 10 running touchdowns in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Next, he puts the Bills on his back again as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they face next.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star receiver caught 2 scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
- A reeling franchise saw its franchise quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a similar injury.
