Every contest is crucial from here on in, with several massive outcomes in week 14 that could decide play-off positions come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a significant blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a huge problem and could have ended the Chiefs' season sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Hype
Three massive division clashes lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his deep passes to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as his team missed crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. These teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final weekend of the season.
In another, the oldest feud in the league saw a classic contest. Despite touchdown bombs, an exhausted defense had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing conditions.
The outcome gave one team a slender lead in their division, while the losers plummeted from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Chiefs only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.
In his seven full seasons as a starter, he has reached seven conference championship games and 5 Super Bowls. That indicates the team has competed in nearly every possible contest throughout his tenure.
So, the causes for the current failure are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already questionable O-line, with several starters out.
Despite that, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, but failed kicks and costly drops—such as on a pivotal fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?
Two top contenders from the West Coast conferences are building strong cases for championship contention.
One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl played at February's venue. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through methodical, long possessions.
The second contender, leading the NFC, showcased an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable running game to pair with an elite passing attack.
A key matchup could be if the high-flying offence could solve the relentless pressure of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch playoff showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate fueled rumors about a potential retirement.
Listening to him state, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he wants to do following this campaign," Mahomes continued. Should the year concludes early for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl winner could decide to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a wintry victory. He threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall scores this season.
He is the only quarterback in NFL history with three thousand passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Now, he puts the team on his back once more as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
- A prolific wide receiver caught two touchdowns and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
- An overseas kicker helped his team in a upset win in soggy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one week responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling team watched its star QB come back from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a similar ailment.