Every contest counts down the stretch, with some huge conclusions in week 14 that could settle postseason spots by the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, while Josh Allen all-but finished Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence posed a significant problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Live Up To the Hype
Three critical division clashes delivered.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a tough 27-22 victory in Baltimore. He scored his first rushing touchdown in nearly three years, however it was his deep throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson was out of kilter as his team missed crucial opportunities—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being overturned. The two teams will meet once more on the last weekend of the season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite touchdown bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another late-game comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing conditions.
This result handed one team a narrow lead in their division, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections give the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the play-offs. Realistically, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.
In his seven complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. This indicates the team has played almost each possible contest throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players out.
Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, but failed field goals and crucial dropped passes—including on a key fourth down play—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?
Two top teams from the western conferences are making strong cases for championship favorites.
One squad, atop their the AFC, claimed the last title held at this year's venue. They are built on a stifling defence that leads the league in sacks and victories through methodical, long drives.
The other team, atop the NFC, showcased an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running game to pair with an exceptional aerial game.
A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offense could withstand the relentless pressure of the top defense—a a fascinating playoff matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate fueled talk about a possible retirement.
Listening to Mahomes say, "each season... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," he continued. Should the season ends prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl winner might decide to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for his team in a snowy win. He threw three scores and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering percentage of his team's total scores this year.
He is the first player in league history with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD passes and 10 running touchdowns in 3 straight campaigns.
Next, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they aim to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—and, that's exactly who they play next.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A star receiver scored 2 scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An overseas kicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A team that was shutout one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling franchise watched its star QB return from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a related injury.
