Each game counts down the stretch, with some huge results in week 14 that might determine play-off spots come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers landed a significant setback to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defense presented a huge problem and could have finished the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Deciders Exceed the Hype
A trio of critical division clashes delivered.
Veteran quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his team to a tough 27-22 win in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial running touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his deep passes to his top receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. These teams will meet again on the final weekend of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie quarterback in the frigid weather.
The outcome handed one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team dropped from the conference's top spot all the way to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Projections give the Chiefs only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.
In Mahomes' 7 complete years as a starter, he has reached seven conference championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. This means the team has competed in nearly each possible contest throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the causes for the current failure are clear and were highlighted during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already struggling offensive line, with several starters out.
Even then, the quarterback provided his squad a chance, but missed kicks and critical drops—including on a pivotal fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of top teams from the West Coast conferences are making strong arguments for championship contention.
One team, leading their conference, claimed the most recent title played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through methodical, long drives.
The second contender, leading the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a formidable running attack to pair with an exceptional aerial attack.
A key matchup would be whether the potent offense could handle the smothering pressure of the top defense—what would be a fascinating potential showdown.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing Mahomes state, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the option to do whatever he wants to do following this season," Mahomes continued. If the year concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl veteran might decide to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15
Josh Allen put on a show again for his team in a snowy victory. He passed for three scores and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the only player in league annals with 3,000 passing yards, twenty TD passes and 10 rushing scores in three straight seasons.
Now, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they aim to catch their division foes, the New England Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next.
Major Week 15 Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific receiver caught 2 scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
- An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling franchise saw its star quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest once more with a related ailment.
