Each game counts from here on in, with some huge outcomes in week 14 that might settle play-off positions come the conclusion of the year.
A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a big setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense presented a massive problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Expectations
A trio of huge division clashes lived up to the hype.
Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a tough close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his first rushing touchdown in nearly three years, but it was his deep throws to his star receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as his team failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were frustrated by a late touchdown being chalked off. The two franchises will meet once more on the final day of the season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL witnessed a classic contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game comeback from the opposing young quarterback in the freezing weather.
This outcome gave one side a narrow advantage in their division, while the losers fell from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% 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 franchise in a decade.
In Mahomes' 7 complete years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship games and five Super Bowls. That means the team has played almost each available game throughout his tenure.
So, the reasons for this year's struggles are apparent and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with several key players out.
Despite that, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, however missed field goals and crucial drops—including on a decisive fourth down play—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are building compelling cases for championship contention.
One squad, atop their conference, won the last Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that leads the league in sacks and wins through grinding, long drives.
The second team, leading the NFC, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed running game to pair with an exceptional aerial attack.
The question would be if the high-flying offence could handle the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch playoff matchup.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end fueled talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing him state, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do following this campaign," Mahomes added. Should the year concludes prematurely for the team, the three-time champion winner could decide to retire.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show again for his team in a wintry victory. Allen threw 3 scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a staggering percentage of his offense's overall scores this year.
Allen is the first player in league annals with three thousand pass yards, 20 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—and, they are exactly who they play this coming Sunday.
Key Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A prolific receiver scored 2 scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An international kicker played a key role for his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A reeling team watched its star QB come back from injury, only to leave the game once more with a similar injury.
