🔗 Share this article

Every contest matters from here on in, with some huge outcomes in week 14 that could decide play-off positions by the end of the campaign.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a big setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually ended the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a significant challenge and could have concluded the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Hype

A trio of massive rivalry games lived up to the hype.

Veteran quarterback Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first rushing touchdown in nearly three years, but it was his deep passes to his top receiver that made the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson seemed off rhythm as Baltimore missed key opportunities—though they were left fuming by a late score being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final day of the regular season.

In another, the longest-running feud in the league saw a thrilling encounter. Despite scoring bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.

The result handed one team a slender advantage in their division, whereas the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to seventh.

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Statistical models give the Kansas City only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.

During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and 5 championship games. That means the club has competed in nearly every possible contest throughout his tenure.

Therefore, the reasons for this year's struggles are apparent and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players missing.

Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a chance, but failed field goals and crucial drops—including on a decisive fourth down play—confirmed their downfall.

In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?

Two top contenders from the West Coast divisions are making strong arguments for championship contention.

One team, atop their the AFC, won the most recent Super Bowl played at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through grinding, long drives.

The other team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an explosive offence capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a two-headed ground game to pair with an exceptional aerial game.

The question would be whether the high-flying offence could handle the relentless pressure of the elite defense—what would be a must-watch potential showdown.

Talking Point: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits?

Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked talk about a possible departure.

Listening to Mahomes say, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," he added. If the season ends early for the team, the 3x champion winner could choose to retire.

Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for his team in a snowy win. He threw 3 scores and ran for another, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his offense's overall touchdowns this year.

He is the only player in NFL history with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD throws and ten running scores in three straight campaigns.

Now, he puts the Bills on his back again as they aim to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's precisely who they play this coming Sunday.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

• Bills @ New England Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A star receiver caught 2 touchdowns and remains on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
• An overseas kicker played a key role for his squad in a upset victory in rainy weather.
• A team that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A reeling franchise saw its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game again with a similar injury.