Every game counts at this stage, with several huge results in the fourteenth week that may determine postseason berths come the conclusion of the year.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a significant blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, while Josh Allen all-but finished Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a massive challenge and could have ended the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Anticipation
A trio of huge division clashes lived up to the hype.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his team to a gritty close success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running score in nearly three seasons, however it was his long passes to his star wideout that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson was off rhythm as his team failed to capitalize on key chances—though they were angry by a late touchdown being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last day of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL witnessed a thrilling encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.
The result handed one team a slender advantage in their division, while the losers dropped from the NFC's top spot down to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.
During Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and five championship games. That means the club has played nearly every possible contest during his time.
So, the causes for this year's struggles are clear and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already struggling O-line, with several key players missing.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a chance, however missed kicks and costly drops—including on a key fourth-down play—confirmed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
Two top teams from the West Coast divisions are making compelling arguments for championship contention.
One squad, atop their conference, won the last Super Bowl held at February's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in sacks and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The second team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable ground attack to pair with an elite aerial attack.
The question could be whether the potent offence can handle the smothering pressure of the top defensive unit—what would be a must-watch potential showdown.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled rumors about a potential retirement.
Hearing him say, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. Should the season ends early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might choose to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy victory. He passed for 3 scores and ran for another, accounting for a remarkable portion of his team's total scores this season.
He is the only player in NFL annals with 3,000 pass yards, 20 touchdown throws and 10 running scores in three consecutive campaigns.
Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his back once more as they try to catch their division foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's precisely who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A star receiver caught two scores and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An international kicker helped his squad in a surprise victory in rainy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling team saw its star quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the game once more with a similar injury.
