Every matchup is crucial down the stretch, with a number of massive results in week 14 that may settle postseason spots by the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defense posed a significant problem and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Expectations
A trio of huge rivalry games delivered.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, guided his team to a tough close win in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer scored his first running score in almost three seasons, but it was his deep throws to his star wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as his team missed key opportunities—although they were left fuming by a late touchdown being chalked off. The two teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final weekend of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL witnessed a epic contest. Even with scoring deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the freezing weather.
The outcome gave one side a slender lead in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team fell from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections give the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.
In his 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship games and 5 championship games. This indicates the club has played nearly each available game throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are clear and were encapsulated during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already struggling offensive line, with multiple key players out.
Even then, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, however missed field goals and crucial dropped passes—including on a pivotal fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?
A pair of top teams from the western divisions are building compelling cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the league in sacks and wins through methodical, long drives.
The second team, leading the NFC, demonstrated 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.
The question would be whether the potent offense could solve the smothering pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end sparked speculation about a potential retirement.
Hearing Mahomes state, "each season... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do following this season," Mahomes continued. If the year concludes early for the Chiefs, the three-time champion veteran might choose to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. Allen threw three scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his team's overall touchdowns this year.
He is the first player in NFL history with three thousand pass yards, twenty touchdown passes and 10 rushing scores in 3 consecutive seasons.
Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
- A prolific receiver scored 2 scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant pass rusher notched his twentieth sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An overseas placekicker helped his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
- A struggling team saw its franchise QB return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest once more with a related injury.
