Every game is crucial down the stretch, with a number of enormous outcomes in week 14 that could settle postseason spots come the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence presented a huge problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Anticipation
A trio of huge divisional battles did not disappoint.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his team to a gritty close success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial rushing score in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his top receiver that proved to be the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as his team failed to capitalize on key chances—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being overturned. These teams are scheduled to face off again on the last day of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game rally from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing weather.
The result gave one side a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the losers dropped from the NFC's top spot down to seventh.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Chiefs only a 15% 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 for the franchise in a ten years.
In his seven complete years as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and five championship games. This means the team has played nearly each possible game throughout his time.
So, the reasons for the current struggles are evident and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Injuries decimated an already dodgy O-line, with several key players missing.
Despite that, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, however failed field goals and costly drops—such as on a key fourth down play—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?
Two powerhouse teams from the western divisions are making strong arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One team, leading their conference, claimed the last Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, long drives.
The second team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground game to pair with an exceptional aerial game.
The question could be if the potent offence could handle the relentless pressure of the top defense—a a must-watch playoff matchup.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits?
Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end fueled speculation about a potential departure.
Hearing Mahomes say, "each year... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do following this campaign," he added. Should the year concludes early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might choose to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy win. Allen passed for three touchdowns and ran for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his offense's overall touchdowns this year.
Allen is the first player in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, 20 TD passes and ten rushing touchdowns in three straight campaigns.
Now, he puts the team on his back again as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are exactly who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Week 15 Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
- A prolific receiver scored 2 scores and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant defensive end notched his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An overseas kicker helped his squad in a upset win in rainy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A reeling franchise watched its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game once more with a similar injury.
