Each contest is crucial down the stretch, with some huge outcomes in week 14 that might decide play-off berths by the end of the campaign.
A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a significant setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually ended Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence posed a massive problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Hype
A trio of massive rivalry games lived up to the hype.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his team to a gritty 27-22 success in on the road. He scored his initial running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that proved to be the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as his team missed key chances—though they were frustrated by a late touchdown being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the regular season.
In another, the oldest feud in the NFL witnessed a classic encounter. Even with scoring deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing weather.
This outcome handed one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, while the defeated team fell from the conference's number one seed all the way to seventh.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the 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 franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.
In Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starter, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. That indicates the team has competed in almost every available game throughout his time.
So, the reasons for the current failure are evident and were encapsulated during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with several key players missing.
Despite that, the quarterback gave his team a chance, but failed kicks and crucial dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth-down play—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse contenders from the West Coast conferences are making strong arguments for championship contention.
One team, atop their conference, won the most recent title played at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the league in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.
The other team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed running attack to pair with an elite aerial attack.
The question could be whether the potent offence can handle the relentless pass rush of the elite defense—what would be a must-watch potential matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Amid the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate sparked rumors about a possible departure.
Hearing Mahomes state, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.
"He will have the option to do what he wants to do after this campaign," he added. Should the year ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner could decide to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all again for his team in a wintry victory. He threw 3 scores and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering percentage of his team's overall touchdowns this season.
Allen is the first player in league history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD throws and ten rushing touchdowns in three straight seasons.
Now, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they try to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A prolific wide receiver caught two scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
- An international placekicker helped his squad in a upset win in rainy conditions.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
- A struggling team saw its star quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game once more with a similar ailment.
