Each contest counts from here on in, with several huge results in the fourteenth week that may decide postseason berths come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a significant setback to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Expectations
A trio of huge rivalry games delivered.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a tough close win in on the road. He scored his initial running touchdown in almost three seasons, but it was his deep passes to his top receiver that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key chances—although they were left fuming by a late score being nullified. These teams are scheduled to face off again on the last day of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the league saw a epic encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an exhausted defense had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.
The result handed one side a slender advantage in their division, while the defeated team plummeted from the NFC's number one seed all the way to seventh.
Analysis: What Has Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% chance of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
In Mahomes' seven complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to seven conference championship contests and five championship games. This means the club has competed in almost every possible game during his time.
Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are apparent and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Injuries decimated an already struggling O-line, with multiple starters missing.
Even then, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, but missed field goals and costly dropped passes—including on a decisive fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are building compelling cases for championship contention.
One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the last title played at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The second team, leading the NFC, showcased an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed ground game to complement an exceptional passing attack.
The question would be if the potent offense can solve the smothering pass rush of the top defense—a a must-watch potential matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked talk about a possible departure.
Hearing him say, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the option to do what he wants to do following this season," he continued. If the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner might decide to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for Buffalo in a snowy win. Allen threw 3 scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a staggering percentage of his offense's total touchdowns this year.
He is the only player in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD throws and ten running scores in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Next, he puts the Bills on his back once more as they aim to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
- A prolific wide receiver scored 2 scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end notched his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An international placekicker helped his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A team that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A reeling team watched its star quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest once more with a similar ailment.
