Every contest counts down the stretch, with several massive results in week 14 that may decide postseason spots by the end of the season.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a significant blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen all-but finished Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence presented a significant problem and could have finished the Chiefs' season sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation
A trio of huge division clashes delivered.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in on the road. He scored his initial running score in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—although they were left fuming by a late touchdown being nullified. These teams will meet once more on the last weekend of the season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the league saw a thrilling contest. Despite touchdown bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another late-game comeback from the opposing rookie QB in the frigid conditions.
The outcome handed one side a slender advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers fell from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.
In Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starter, he has reached seven conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the team has played almost each possible contest during his time.
Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are evident and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable O-line, with multiple starters missing.
Even then, Mahomes gave his team a chance, but failed kicks and costly dropped passes—such as on a key fourth-down attempt—confirmed their fate.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
A pair of powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are building strong arguments for championship contention.
One squad, leading their conference, won the most recent title held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the league in sacks and wins through methodical, long possessions.
The second contender, atop the NFC, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable running game to pair with an exceptional passing attack.
A key matchup could be whether the potent offence could withstand the relentless pressure of the top defensive unit—what would be a must-watch potential matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, comments from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked rumors about a possible departure.
Hearing him state, "each year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do following this campaign," he added. If the season ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Highlights Week 15
Josh Allen put on a show once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. Allen threw three scores and ran for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his offense's total scores this year.
He is the first player in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten running touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
Now, he puts the team on his back again as they try to catch their division rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are exactly who they face next.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star receiver scored two touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling team saw its franchise QB come back from injury, only to exit the game once more with a similar ailment.
