Each contest counts down the stretch, with some huge outcomes in week 14 that might decide play-off berths come the end of the year.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a big setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, whereas Josh Allen all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense presented a massive problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Hype
Three critical division clashes did not disappoint.
Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, steered his team to a hard-fought close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his long throws to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. These teams are scheduled to face off once more on the last day of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a thrilling contest. Even with scoring deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting young QB in the freezing weather.
This result handed one side a slender advantage in their division, whereas the defeated team dropped from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.
During Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starter, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and five Super Bowls. This indicates the club has competed in almost each possible game during his tenure.
So, the reasons for this year's failure are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Absences decimated an already questionable offensive line, with several starters out.
Even then, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, however failed field goals and crucial drops—including on a pivotal fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
Two top contenders from the West Coast divisions are building compelling cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, atop their conference, won the last Super Bowl played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defense that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through grinding, long possessions.
The other contender, atop the other conference, showcased an high-powered offense capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running attack to pair with an exceptional passing game.
The question would be if the high-flying offence can handle the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—what would be a fascinating playoff showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing Mahomes state, "each year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do following this campaign," Mahomes added. Should the season ends early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might choose to retire.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show again for his team in a wintry victory. Allen passed for 3 scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's total touchdowns this year.
He is the first player in league annals with three thousand passing yards, twenty TD throws and 10 running scores in 3 straight seasons.
Next, he puts the team on his back once more as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—and, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star wide receiver scored 2 scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A feared defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
- An international kicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in rainy weather.
- A team that was shutout one game responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A struggling franchise watched its star QB return from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest once more with a similar injury.
