Every contest matters at this stage, with a number of huge results in the fourteenth week that may determine postseason berths by the end of the season.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while Josh Allen all-but finished Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant problem and may have finished the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Showdowns Exceed the Expectations
A trio of huge rivalry games lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in Baltimore. He recorded his first rushing touchdown in almost three years, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that made the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key opportunities—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter touchdown being overturned. These franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the league saw a thrilling contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defense had to thwart another late-game rally from the opposing rookie quarterback in the freezing weather.
This result gave one team a slender advantage in their division, while the defeated team fell from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.
In Mahomes' seven complete seasons as a starter, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the team has competed in nearly every possible game throughout his time.
So, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players missing.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a fighting chance, but failed field goals and costly drops—including on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?
Two powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are making strong arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One team, leading their conference, won the most recent Super Bowl played at this year's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The second team, atop the NFC, showcased an explosive offence capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a formidable ground attack to pair with an exceptional passing attack.
The question could be whether the high-flying offense could handle the smothering pressure of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch potential showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end sparked rumors about a possible departure.
Listening to Mahomes say, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do after this campaign," he added. Should the year ends prematurely for the team, the 3x champion winner might decide to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15
The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for Buffalo in a snowy victory. Allen passed for three scores and rushed for another, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his offense's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the first player in NFL history with three thousand pass yards, 20 touchdown throws and 10 rushing scores in 3 straight campaigns.
Next, he puts the team on his back once more as they try to chase down their division rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A prolific receiver scored 2 scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record.
- An international kicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise win in soggy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one week responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A struggling franchise saw its star quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a related ailment.
