Each contest is crucial down the stretch, with a number of huge results in week 14 that may settle play-off positions come the end of the season.
A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston defense presented a significant problem and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation
A trio of massive divisional battles lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a hard-fought close victory in Baltimore. He notched his initial rushing score in nearly three seasons, however it was his long passes to his star receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as his team missed key chances—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being overturned. These teams will meet again on the final day of the regular season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a classic contest. Despite touchdown bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another late-game rally from the opposing young quarterback in the freezing weather.
The result gave one side a narrow advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.
During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. This means the team has competed in almost each available game throughout his tenure.
So, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with several starters out.
Despite that, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, however missed kicks and costly drops—such as on a pivotal fourth down attempt—confirmed their fate.
Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of top teams from the western divisions are building compelling cases for Super Bowl contention.
One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl played at this year's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, long possessions.
The second team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed running attack to pair with an elite aerial game.
A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offence could handle the relentless pass rush of the top defense—what would be a fascinating potential matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a possible retirement.
Listening to him say, "each year... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB 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 season concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x champion veteran might decide to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a wintry victory. Allen threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this season.
Allen is the first player in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, 20 TD passes and ten running scores in 3 consecutive seasons.
Now, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders again as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end recorded his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
- An international kicker played a key role for his team in a surprise victory in rainy conditions.
- A offense that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise watched its franchise QB come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a similar ailment.
