Every matchup matters from here on in, with some huge results in week 14 that might settle postseason berths come the end of the year.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a major setback to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defense presented a huge challenge and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Anticipation
A trio of huge rivalry games delivered.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a tough 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial rushing score in almost three years, however it was his deep passes to his star receiver that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson seemed off rhythm as Baltimore missed key opportunities—although they were angry by a late touchdown being overturned. The two franchises will meet once more on the last day of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Despite touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the frigid weather.
The outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their division, whereas the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% probability of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
In Mahomes' seven full years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and five Super Bowls. That indicates the team has competed in nearly every possible game throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the causes for this year's struggles are evident and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already questionable offensive line, with several starters missing.
Even then, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, however failed kicks and costly dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth down attempt—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are building compelling arguments for championship contention.
One squad, leading their conference, won the most recent title held at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, time-consuming possessions.
The other contender, 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 aerial game.
The question could be whether the high-flying offense could handle the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a fascinating potential matchup.
Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled rumors about a potential departure.
Hearing Mahomes say, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do whatever he wants to do following this season," he continued. If the season ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time champion veteran might decide to retire.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a snowy win. He threw 3 scores and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable portion of his team's total touchdowns this season.
Allen is the first quarterback in league annals with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten rushing scores in 3 consecutive seasons.
Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his back once more as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver caught 2 scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season record.
- An overseas placekicker helped his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling franchise watched its franchise quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the game once more with a similar ailment.
