Every contest matters from here on in, with some massive results in week 14 that might determine play-off spots come the end of the season.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defense presented a significant challenge and may have concluded the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation
A trio of massive division clashes delivered.
Veteran quarterback Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a tough close victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first rushing score in almost three seasons, but it was his long passes to his top wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as his team missed crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. These teams will meet again on the last day of the season.
In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a thrilling encounter. Despite scoring deep passes, an worn-out defense had to thwart another late-game rally from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing weather.
This outcome gave one team a slender lead in their NFC North, while the defeated team dropped from the conference's top spot down to seventh.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.
During Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starter, he has reached seven AFC Championship games and 5 Super Bowls. That means the club has competed in nearly each available contest throughout his time.
Therefore, the causes for this year's struggles are apparent and were highlighted during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already struggling offensive line, with multiple key players out.
Despite that, the quarterback gave his squad a chance, however failed kicks and costly drops—such as on a decisive fourth-down play—sealed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast divisions are building compelling cases for championship contention.
One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the last title held at February's venue. They are built on a stifling defence that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, long drives.
The other team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground attack to complement an elite passing attack.
The question could be if the high-flying offence can handle the relentless pass rush of the top defense—what would be a fascinating potential matchup.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?
Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked talk about a potential departure.
Listening to Mahomes state, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely seemed like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.
"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do following this season," Mahomes added. Should the year ends prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl veteran could choose to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a wintry victory. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the first quarterback in league annals with 3,000 pass yards, 20 TD throws and 10 running scores in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Next, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face next.
Major Week 15 Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star receiver caught 2 touchdowns and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season record.
- An overseas placekicker helped 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 following week.
- A struggling franchise watched its franchise QB come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest once more with a similar injury.
