Each contest is crucial down the stretch, with some massive outcomes in week 14 that could determine postseason berths come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while Josh Allen all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence presented a massive problem and may have ended the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Live Up To the Hype
Three critical divisional battles delivered.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his team to a tough 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his initial running score in almost three years, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as his team missed key chances—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on the final weekend of the regular season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the league witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing conditions.
The outcome handed one side a slender lead in their division, while the losers plummeted from the NFC's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a 15% probability of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a ten years.
In his 7 full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and five Super Bowls. This indicates the team has played almost each available game throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are apparent and were highlighted during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with several starters missing.
Even then, the quarterback gave his team a chance, but failed field goals and critical drops—including on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
Two powerhouse contenders from the West Coast conferences are building compelling cases for championship favorites.
One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the last title played at this year's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The second contender, atop the other conference, showcased an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a formidable ground game to complement an exceptional passing game.
The question would be whether the high-flying offence could handle the smothering pressure of the top defense—what would be a fascinating playoff showdown.
Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end sparked rumors about a possible departure.
Listening to Mahomes say, "each year... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do what he wants to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. Should the season concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x champion veteran could decide to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy victory. Allen passed for 3 scores and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering percentage of his offense's overall scores this year.
Allen is the only quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand pass yards, 20 touchdown passes and ten running scores in 3 straight seasons.
Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his back again as they try to catch their division rivals, the New England Patriots—and, that's exactly who they face next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A prolific wide receiver caught 2 touchdowns and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant pass rusher notched his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
- An overseas kicker helped his team in a surprise win in rainy conditions.
- A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling franchise saw its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the game again with a similar injury.
