Each matchup counts down the stretch, with a number of huge conclusions in week 14 that might determine play-off berths by the end of the season.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers landed a major blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a huge problem and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Expectations
Three critical rivalry games lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a gritty close success in Baltimore. He notched his first rushing touchdown in nearly three seasons, however it was his deep passes to his top receiver that made the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—though they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. These teams will meet once more on the final day of the regular season.
In another, the oldest feud in the league saw a epic contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the frigid conditions.
The result gave one team a narrow lead in their division, while the losers plummeted from the conference's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
In Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship games and five championship games. That indicates the club has competed in almost every available contest during his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are clear and were encapsulated during the recent loss. Injuries decimated an already struggling O-line, with multiple key players out.
Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a chance, however failed field goals and critical dropped passes—such as on a key fourth down play—confirmed their fate.
In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of top teams from the West Coast conferences are building compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, atop their conference, won the most recent title held at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The second team, leading the other conference, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed running game to pair with an elite aerial attack.
The question could be if the potent offence could handle the relentless pass rush of the top defensive unit—what would be a must-watch potential showdown.
Talking Point: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked speculation about a potential departure.
Hearing Mahomes state, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," he continued. If the season ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion winner might choose to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show again for his team in a wintry win. Allen threw 3 touchdowns and rushed for one more, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this season.
Allen is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD throws and 10 running scores in three consecutive seasons.
Next, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—and, they are exactly who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit 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 year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A star receiver scored 2 scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end notched his twentieth QB sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record.
- An overseas kicker helped his team in a upset win in rainy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A reeling franchise watched its star quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a similar ailment.
