Every matchup counts down the stretch, with some massive results in week 14 that could decide postseason positions by the end of the year.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a major blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a significant challenge and may have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Live Up To the Hype
Three huge division clashes lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a gritty close success in Baltimore. He notched his first rushing touchdown in almost three years, however it was his long passes to his top wideout that made the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as his team missed key chances—though they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. The two teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final day of the season.
In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another late-game comeback from the opposing young QB in the freezing conditions.
This result gave one side a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the losers dropped from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.
During his 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven conference championship contests and five championship games. This means the club has played almost each available game during his time.
So, the reasons for this year's struggles are evident and were encapsulated during the recent loss. Injuries decimated an already struggling offensive line, with multiple key players out.
Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a chance, however missed field goals and critical dropped passes—including on a key fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?
Two top contenders from the western conferences are building compelling cases for championship favorites.
One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the most recent title played at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The other team, leading the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offence capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a formidable running attack to complement an elite passing attack.
A key matchup could be whether the potent offence can handle the relentless pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating potential showdown.
Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end sparked talk about a possible retirement.
Hearing him say, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the choice to do what he wants to do following this campaign," Mahomes added. Should the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner could choose to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen passed for three scores and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's total scores this season.
Allen is the only quarterback in league history with three thousand passing yards, 20 TD passes and ten running touchdowns in three consecutive campaigns.
Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his back again as they aim to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the season—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific receiver scored 2 touchdowns and remains on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in rainy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
- A struggling franchise saw its franchise quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a related injury.
