Every contest is crucial at this stage, with a number of massive outcomes in week 14 that might decide postseason berths come the end of the season.
A 42-year veteran quarterback struck a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence presented a huge problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation
A trio of critical rivalry games delivered.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty 27-22 victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial rushing touchdown in almost three years, but it was his deep passes to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial chances—although they were angry by a late touchdown being chalked off. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last day of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young QB in the frigid conditions.
This outcome handed one team a slender advantage in their division, while the defeated team fell from the conference's top spot all the way to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Chiefs only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.
During his 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven conference championship contests and five championship games. This means the club has competed in nearly every possible contest throughout his tenure.
So, the causes for the current struggles are apparent and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with multiple key players missing.
Even then, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, however failed kicks and costly drops—such as on a key fourth-down play—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
Two top contenders from the West Coast divisions are building compelling arguments for Super Bowl contention.
One team, atop their conference, won the most recent title played at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The other contender, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running attack to pair with an elite aerial game.
The question would be whether the potent offense could handle the relentless pressure of the elite defensive unit—what would be a must-watch potential matchup.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate sparked rumors about a potential retirement.
Listening to him say, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly sounded like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do following this season," he continued. If the season ends prematurely for the team, the three-time champion winner might decide to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for his team in a snowy victory. Allen passed for 3 scores and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's overall scores this season.
He is the first quarterback in league annals with 3,000 pass yards, 20 touchdown passes and ten running touchdowns in 3 consecutive seasons.
Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A star receiver caught two scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
- An overseas placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in soggy weather.
- A team that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise saw its star QB return from injury, only to leave the game once more with a similar injury.
