Each contest matters down the stretch, with some massive results in the fourteenth week that may determine postseason berths come the conclusion of the year.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence presented a huge challenge and could have finished the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Hype
A trio of huge divisional battles delivered.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a gritty 27-22 victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial rushing score in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his top receiver that made the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as his team missed key chances—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two teams will meet once more on the final weekend of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the league saw a epic contest. Despite scoring bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing rookie QB in the frigid conditions.
The result gave one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team fell from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.
In Mahomes' 7 complete years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. This indicates the club has competed in nearly every possible contest during his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with several starters missing.
Despite that, Mahomes provided his squad a fighting chance, however failed field goals and costly dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth-down play—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
Two powerhouse contenders from the West Coast conferences are making compelling arguments for championship contention.
One team, atop their conference, claimed the last title held at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the NFL in sacks and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The other team, atop the NFC, showcased an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a two-headed ground game to complement an elite passing attack.
The question could be whether the high-flying offense could solve the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch playoff showdown.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled speculation about a potential retirement.
Listening to him say, "every season... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely seemed like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do whatever he wants to do following this season," he added. Should the season concludes early for the team, the three-time champion winner might decide to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all again for his team in a snowy victory. He passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this year.
Allen is the only quarterback in NFL annals with 3,000 passing yards, twenty TD passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 straight seasons.
Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his back once more as they try to chase down their division foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's precisely who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver scored two scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record.
- An international placekicker helped his squad in a surprise win in soggy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise watched its franchise quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the contest again with a related injury.
