🔗 Share this article

Each game counts from here on in, with several huge results in week 14 that might determine play-off spots come the end of the year.

A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a significant blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a huge problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Expectations

Three massive division clashes did not disappoint.

Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his squad to a tough close victory in Baltimore. He scored his initial running touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his star wideout that made the difference.

Lamar Jackson was out of sync as his team failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were left fuming by a late touchdown being overturned. These teams will meet again on the last weekend of the season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the league witnessed a epic contest. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defense had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young QB in the frigid weather.

The outcome handed one team a narrow lead in their division, whereas the defeated team plummeted from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this will be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.

During his seven full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the club has competed in nearly each possible game during his tenure.

So, the causes for this year's failure are clear and were highlighted during the recent defeat. Absences decimated an already questionable offensive line, with multiple starters missing.

Despite that, the quarterback provided his team a chance, however missed kicks and crucial dropped passes—including on a pivotal fourth down attempt—confirmed their downfall.

Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?

Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast divisions are building strong cases for championship contention.

One team, leading their the AFC, won the most recent Super Bowl played at February's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, long possessions.

The second contender, leading the NFC, demonstrated an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable ground attack to complement an exceptional passing game.

A key matchup would be if the high-flying offence can withstand the relentless pressure of the elite defense—a a must-watch potential matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?

Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end sparked speculation about a potential departure.

Hearing Mahomes state, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do after this season," he continued. Should the year concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl veteran could decide to walk away.

Preview: Bills vs. New England Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a wintry win. Allen threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his offense's overall scores this year.

He is the first quarterback in league history with three thousand pass yards, 20 touchdown passes and ten running touchdowns in 3 straight campaigns.

Now, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they try to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face next.

Key Week 15 Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Chargers @ Chiefs

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A prolific wide receiver caught two touchdowns and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end notched his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in rainy weather.
• A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
• A struggling franchise watched its star quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game again with a related ailment.