🔗 Share this article

Each matchup is crucial from here on in, with some huge results in week 14 that might decide postseason berths by the conclusion of the season.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a major setback to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while Josh Allen all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense presented a huge challenge and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.

Divisional Analysis: Division Showdowns Exceed the Hype

Three critical divisional battles delivered.

Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in on the road. He scored his first running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his deep passes to his top wideout that made the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on key opportunities—though they were angry by a late score being nullified. These franchises will meet again on the final weekend of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the league saw a thrilling contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young QB in the freezing weather.

The result gave one team a narrow advantage in their division, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.

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

Statistical models give the Kansas City only a 15% chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.

In Mahomes' seven complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship games and five championship games. This indicates the team has competed in nearly each possible contest during his time.

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

Despite that, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, but missed field goals and crucial dropped passes—such as on a key fourth-down attempt—sealed their downfall.

In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?

Two top contenders from the western divisions are making strong cases for Super Bowl contention.

One team, atop their conference, won the last title played at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, time-consuming possessions.

The second contender, leading the NFC, showcased an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable ground attack to pair with an exceptional passing game.

The question would be whether the high-flying offense could withstand the smothering pass rush of the top defense—a a fascinating potential matchup.

Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?

Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime teammate fueled speculation about a possible departure.

Hearing him state, "each season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this season," Mahomes continued. Should the year ends early for the Chiefs, the 3x champion veteran could decide to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen put on a show once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. He threw three scores and ran for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's total touchdowns this year.

He is the first quarterback in NFL history with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD passes and 10 running touchdowns in three straight campaigns.

Next, he puts the team on his back again as they aim to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next.

Major Upcoming Week Games:

• Bills @ Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Week 14 Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific receiver caught 2 scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the season, closing in of the single-season mark.
• An international kicker helped his squad in a upset victory in soggy conditions.
• A offense that was held scoreless one week responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A struggling franchise saw its franchise QB come back from injury, only to leave the game again with a similar ailment.