Every game counts from here on in, with some massive conclusions in the fourteenth week that could settle play-off berths by the end of the campaign.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a huge challenge and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Expectations
Three critical division clashes lived up to the hype.
Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a tough 27-22 victory in on the road. He notched his first rushing score in nearly three years, however it was his deep throws to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as his team missed crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final day of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL saw a classic encounter. Even with scoring deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another late-game rally from the visiting young quarterback in the frigid weather.
This result handed one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers plummeted from the conference's top spot all the way to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Chiefs only a fifteen percent probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a ten years.
In his 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship contests and five Super Bowls. That indicates the club has played almost each possible contest during his time.
So, the causes for the current struggles are evident and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Absences ravaged an already struggling O-line, with multiple key players out.
Even then, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, however missed field goals and critical drops—including on a key fourth down attempt—confirmed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast divisions are building strong cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One team, atop their conference, won the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's venue. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the league in sacks and wins through methodical, long possessions.
The other team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable ground attack to complement an exceptional passing attack.
The question would be if the high-flying offense can solve the smothering pass rush of the top defense—what would be a must-watch potential showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled talk about a possible retirement.
Listening to Mahomes state, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly seemed like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this season," he added. If the year ends early for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl veteran could choose to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15
The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for his team in a snowy win. He passed for three touchdowns and rushed for one more, responsible for a remarkable portion of his team's total scores this season.
Allen is the first quarterback in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD throws and ten rushing scores in 3 straight seasons.
Next, he puts the team on his back once more as they try to catch their division foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they play next.
Key Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A star wide receiver scored two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
- An international kicker played a key role for his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling team watched its franchise quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the game once more with a similar injury.
