🔗 Share this article

Each game is crucial from here on in, with some massive results in the fourteenth week that could determine play-off spots by the conclusion of the season.

A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while Josh Allen all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense posed a huge challenge and may have finished the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Hype

A trio of huge divisional battles lived up to the hype.

Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 success in on the road. He notched his initial rushing score in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his top wideout that made the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as his team missed key chances—although they were left fuming by a late score being nullified. These franchises will meet again on the final day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the NFL saw a thrilling encounter. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to thwart another late-game rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the frigid weather.

The outcome handed one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team dropped from the conference's top spot all the way to seventh.

In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a ten years.

During his 7 full years as a starter, he has reached seven conference championship games and 5 championship games. That means the team has played nearly each possible game throughout his time.

Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already struggling O-line, with multiple starters missing.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, but missed field goals and critical dropped passes—such as on a key fourth-down attempt—confirmed their fate.

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

Two powerhouse teams from the western conferences are building strong cases for championship favorites.

One squad, leading their conference, won the most recent Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, long possessions.

The second contender, atop the NFC, showcased an high-powered offence capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground game to complement an exceptional passing attack.

A key matchup would be if the high-flying offense could solve the smothering pressure of the top defensive unit—what would be a must-watch potential matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?

Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked talk about a potential retirement.

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

"He will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do after this season," he continued. Should the year concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for his team in a wintry victory. He passed for 3 scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's overall scores this season.

Allen is the first quarterback in NFL history with three thousand passing yards, twenty TD passes and ten rushing touchdowns in 3 straight campaigns.

Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their division foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
• Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific wide receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
• An overseas kicker helped his team in a upset win in soggy weather.
• A offense that was shutout one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A reeling team saw its franchise QB return from injury, only to exit the game again with a similar injury.