Every contest counts from here on in, with a number of massive conclusions in the fourteenth week that could determine postseason berths come the end of the year.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, whereas Josh Allen all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defense posed a huge challenge and could have concluded the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Hype
A trio of huge division clashes delivered.
Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, steered his team to a tough 27-22 victory in Baltimore. He notched his first running touchdown in nearly three seasons, but it was his deep throws to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as his team missed key opportunities—although they were angry by a late touchdown being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the NFL saw a classic encounter. Despite touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing weather.
The outcome gave one side a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
During Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship games and 5 championship games. That means the club has played nearly every available game during his time.
Therefore, the causes for this year's failure are clear and were summed up during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with several starters out.
Even then, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, however missed field goals and costly dropped passes—including on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the West?
Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are making compelling arguments for championship contention.
One squad, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through grinding, long drives.
The second team, atop the NFC, showcased an high-powered offense capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable running attack to complement an exceptional aerial game.
The question could be whether the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pressure of the top defensive unit—a a fascinating potential showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked speculation about a possible retirement.
Listening to him say, "every season... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do following this season," he added. If the season ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might choose to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show again for his team in a snowy victory. He passed for 3 scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his team's overall touchdowns this season.
Allen is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 pass yards, 20 touchdown passes and 10 running scores in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Next, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face next.
Key Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star wide receiver caught two scores and remains on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
- An overseas placekicker helped his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A offense that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling team saw its franchise QB return from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a similar injury.
