Every contest counts from here on in, with several huge outcomes in week 14 that might determine play-off berths by the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defense presented a massive problem and may have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Hype
A trio of massive rivalry games lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a tough close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial rushing score in almost three years, however it was his long passes to his star wideout that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as his team missed crucial opportunities—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. The two franchises will meet again on the last day of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the league saw a thrilling contest. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defense had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young QB in the frigid conditions.
The outcome gave one team a slender lead in their division, whereas the losers plummeted from the NFC's top spot down to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.
During his seven full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven conference championship games and 5 championship games. This indicates the club has played nearly every available game throughout his tenure.
So, the reasons for this year's failure are clear and were summed up during the recent defeat. Injuries ravaged an already questionable O-line, with several key players missing.
Even then, the quarterback provided his squad a fighting chance, but failed field goals and crucial drops—such as on a key fourth-down play—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
Two top teams from the West Coast divisions are building strong cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, leading their the AFC, won the last title played at February's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, long drives.
The second contender, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable running game to pair with an elite aerial attack.
The question would be if the high-flying offense could withstand the relentless pass rush of the elite defense—what would be a fascinating potential showdown.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled rumors about a possible departure.
Listening to Mahomes say, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he wants to do after this season," Mahomes continued. If the season ends early for the team, the three-time Super Bowl veteran could decide to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for his team in a wintry victory. Allen threw 3 scores and ran for another, accounting for a staggering percentage of his team's overall scores this year.
Allen is the first player in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD throws and 10 running scores in 3 straight seasons.
Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his back again as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are exactly who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star receiver caught two touchdowns and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time record.
- An international kicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A team that was shutout one week responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise saw its franchise quarterback come back from injury, only to exit the game again with a similar injury.
