Every matchup counts down the stretch, with several enormous conclusions in week 14 that might determine postseason spots by the end of the season.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback struck a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence presented a massive challenge and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Hype
A trio of massive rivalry games did not disappoint.
Veteran quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial running touchdown in nearly three years, but it was his deep throws to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as his team missed key opportunities—though they were left fuming by a late score being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the season.
In another, the oldest feud in the league saw a thrilling contest. Even with scoring deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game rally from the visiting young quarterback in the frigid conditions.
The result handed one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the losers fell from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
In Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and five championship games. That indicates the club has played nearly every possible game throughout his time.
Therefore, the reasons for the current struggles are clear and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy offensive line, with multiple key players missing.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his team a chance, but failed field goals and costly dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
Two top teams from the West Coast divisions are making strong arguments for championship contention.
One squad, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl played at February's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defence that leads the league in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming possessions.
The other team, leading the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed running game to complement an elite aerial attack.
A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pressure of the top defense—a a must-watch playoff showdown.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Among the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end sparked talk about a possible departure.
Listening to him say, "each season... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing 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," Mahomes added. Should the season ends early for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl veteran could decide to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15
Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a wintry victory. He passed for three scores and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall scores this year.
Allen is the only player in NFL history with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten running scores in 3 consecutive seasons.
Next, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—and, that's precisely who they face next.
Key Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star receiver scored 2 scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
- An international placekicker helped his squad in a surprise win in rainy weather.
- A team that was shutout one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling team saw its star quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a similar ailment.
