Each game matters from here on in, with some huge results in week 14 that might decide postseason positions by the conclusion of the year.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a significant blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence presented a significant problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Deciders Exceed the Expectations
A trio of massive divisional battles did not disappoint.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his first running score in almost three years, but it was his deep throws to his star wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as Baltimore missed key chances—though they were left fuming by a late touchdown being overturned. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on the final weekend of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a classic contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid weather.
This outcome gave one team a narrow advantage in their division, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.
Analysis: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this will be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.
During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and five championship games. That means the club has played almost each possible contest during his tenure.
So, the causes for the current struggles are apparent and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Absences decimated an already struggling offensive line, with multiple key players out.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a fighting chance, but missed kicks and costly drops—such as on a key fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are making compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, atop their conference, won the last title played at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.
The second team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable ground game to complement an elite passing attack.
A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offense could solve the relentless pass rush of the elite defense—what would be a fascinating playoff showdown.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime tight end sparked speculation about a possible departure.
Hearing him say, "every season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do following this campaign," he added. Should the year ends prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl winner might decide to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for his team in a snowy victory. Allen passed for 3 scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a remarkable portion of his team's total touchdowns this year.
He is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 passing yards, twenty touchdown throws and ten rushing touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
Next, he puts the team on his shoulders once more as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face next.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star wide receiver scored two touchdowns and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
- An international kicker played a key role for his team in a upset victory in rainy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A reeling team saw its star quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest again with a similar ailment.
