Every game counts from here on in, with several huge results in the fourteenth week that could settle play-off positions come the end of the year.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while Josh Allen virtually terminated Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a significant challenge and could have finished the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Expectations
Three critical rivalry games delivered.
Veteran quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a gritty close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial rushing score in almost three seasons, however it was his deep throws to his top receiver that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as his team failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. These teams are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a thrilling encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.
This outcome handed one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team fell from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh.
Analysis: What Has 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 first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.
In his 7 complete years as a starter, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship games and 5 championship games. That indicates the club has played almost every available contest during his tenure.
So, the causes for this year's struggles are evident and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with several key players out.
Despite that, Mahomes provided his team a chance, however failed field goals and crucial drops—including on a key fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are building compelling cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One team, leading their conference, claimed the most recent Super Bowl played at February's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, long possessions.
The other contender, atop the other conference, showcased an high-powered offense capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a formidable running game to complement an exceptional passing game.
A key matchup would be whether the high-flying offence could handle the relentless pass rush of the elite defensive unit—what would be a must-watch playoff matchup.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing him say, "each year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do following this campaign," he added. Should the year ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw three scores and ran for another, accounting for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall scores this year.
Allen is the only player in league history with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD throws and ten running scores in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Next, he puts the Bills on his back once more as they try to catch their division foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face next.
Key Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific receiver caught two scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An international kicker helped his team in a upset victory in rainy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise saw its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest again with a related injury.
