Every game matters at this stage, with a number of massive results in week 14 that might decide play-off berths by the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a major setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas Josh Allen virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant problem and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Anticipation
A trio of huge rivalry games lived up to the hype.
Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his team to a gritty 27-22 win in Baltimore. He recorded his first rushing touchdown in nearly three seasons, however it was his deep throws to his top receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as his team missed key chances—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the regular season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the league saw a epic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to thwart another late-game comeback from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing weather.
The outcome gave one side a narrow advantage in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team fell from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
In his 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship games and 5 Super Bowls. This indicates the team has played nearly each available contest throughout his time.
So, the causes for this year's struggles are evident and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several starters missing.
Even then, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, however missed kicks and critical drops—such as on a key fourth-down attempt—sealed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the western conferences are making compelling cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, leading their conference, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, long drives.
The second team, atop the NFC, showcased an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running game to pair with an elite passing game.
A key matchup would be if the potent offence can solve the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—what would be a fascinating potential showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled rumors about a possible departure.
Hearing him say, "each season... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do following this campaign," he continued. If the year concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl winner could choose to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for his team in a snowy win. He threw three scores and ran for another, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the first quarterback in NFL history with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD passes and ten running touchdowns in three consecutive campaigns.
Next, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they aim to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star receiver scored two touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his team in a surprise victory in rainy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling franchise saw its franchise quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the game again with a similar ailment.
