Every game counts from here on in, with some massive results in week 14 that might determine postseason berths by the end of the campaign.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a major setback to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense posed a huge problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Expectations
A trio of critical rivalry games delivered.
Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his team to a gritty close success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial running score in almost three seasons, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as his team failed to capitalize on key opportunities—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final day of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a epic contest. Even with scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young QB in the frigid conditions.
The outcome handed one side a slender lead in their division, while the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% chance of making the postseason. Realistically, this will be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.
During his seven full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the club has competed in almost every possible contest during his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were encapsulated during the recent defeat. Injuries ravaged an already struggling offensive line, with multiple key players out.
Even then, Mahomes provided his squad a chance, however missed kicks and costly drops—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—sealed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?
A pair of top teams from the western divisions are building compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the most recent title played at this year's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, long possessions.
The second team, leading the NFC, showcased an high-powered offense capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable running game to pair with an elite aerial attack.
A key matchup could be if the potent offence can solve the smothering pressure of the elite defense—a a must-watch potential showdown.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled talk about a possible retirement.
Listening to Mahomes state, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do after this season," Mahomes added. Should the year ends prematurely for the team, the 3x champion veteran could choose to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy win. He threw 3 touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his offense's overall scores this season.
He is the first player in league history with three thousand passing yards, 20 TD passes and ten running scores in three consecutive campaigns.
Now, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their division foes, the Patriots—and, that's exactly who they play next.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver scored two touchdowns and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant defensive end notched his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season record.
- An overseas placekicker helped his team in a surprise victory in rainy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling franchise saw its franchise QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the game again with a similar ailment.
