Every contest counts down the stretch, with some huge outcomes in week 14 that could decide postseason spots come the end of the year.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback struck a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually ended Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense presented a huge problem and could have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Expectations
A trio of huge divisional battles delivered.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty 27-22 win in Baltimore. He scored his first rushing touchdown in nearly three years, but it was his deep passes to his star wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as his team missed key chances—though they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final day of the season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to stop another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing young quarterback in the freezing conditions.
The result gave one side a narrow advantage in their division, while the losers fell from the conference's top spot all the way to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.
During his 7 complete seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and 5 championship games. This indicates the team has competed in almost each possible game during his tenure.
So, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already questionable offensive line, with multiple key players missing.
Even then, Mahomes provided his squad a fighting chance, but missed field goals and critical dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth-down attempt—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
Two powerhouse contenders from the West Coast conferences are building strong cases for championship favorites.
One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the last Super Bowl played at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, time-consuming possessions.
The other team, leading the other conference, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable ground attack to complement an exceptional passing game.
A key matchup would be if the potent offence can solve the relentless pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a possible retirement.
Listening to him say, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like he was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the option to do whatever he wants to do following this season," Mahomes continued. If the season ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl veteran could choose to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for his team in a wintry win. He passed for 3 scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a staggering percentage of his team's overall scores this year.
Allen is the only player in league annals with 3,000 passing yards, twenty touchdown throws and ten running scores in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Next, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—and, that's exactly who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver caught two touchdowns and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
- An overseas kicker helped his squad in a surprise victory in soggy conditions.
- A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A reeling team saw its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the game again with a related injury.
