Every game counts from here on in, with some huge outcomes in week 14 that may settle play-off spots by the end of the year.
A 42-year veteran quarterback struck a major blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Hype
Three massive divisional battles lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his squad to a tough close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer scored his first rushing score in almost three seasons, but it was his long throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as his team missed crucial chances—although they were left fuming by a late score being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the NFL saw a classic contest. Despite scoring bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another late-game rally from the opposing young QB in the frigid weather.
This outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their division, while the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this could be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.
In Mahomes' 7 full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and five Super Bowls. That indicates the team has competed in nearly every possible game during his tenure.
So, the causes for the current failure are evident and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy offensive line, with multiple starters missing.
Even then, the quarterback gave his squad a fighting chance, however missed kicks and critical dropped passes—including on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?
A pair of powerhouse contenders from the West Coast divisions are making compelling cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, leading their conference, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the league in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming possessions.
The second contender, atop the other conference, showcased an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed ground game to pair with an exceptional aerial game.
A key matchup could be if the high-flying offense can handle the relentless pass rush of the top defense—a a must-watch playoff showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate fueled speculation about a possible departure.
Hearing him state, "every season... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the option 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 veteran could decide to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines Week 15
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's total touchdowns this season.
He is the only quarterback in league annals with three thousand passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and ten running scores in 3 consecutive seasons.
Next, he puts the Bills on his back again as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they play next.
Key Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver caught 2 scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth QB sack of the season, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset victory in soggy conditions.
- A offense that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
- A reeling franchise watched its star quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the game again with a similar injury.
