Every contest matters down the stretch, with several enormous conclusions in week 14 that could determine postseason spots by the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a major setback to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a huge problem and may have finished the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Expectations
Three critical division clashes delivered.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his team to a hard-fought 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running score in almost three years, however it was his long passes to his star receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team missed crucial chances—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two teams will meet once more on the final day of the regular season.
In another, the oldest feud in the league witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another late-game comeback from the opposing young QB in the frigid weather.
The result handed one side a slender lead in their division, whereas the defeated team dropped from the NFC's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
During Mahomes' 7 full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. That means the team has played almost each possible contest throughout his time.
Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are apparent and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with multiple key players out.
Despite that, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, however failed kicks and critical dropped passes—such as on a key fourth down play—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of top contenders from the West Coast conferences are making strong arguments for Super Bowl contention.
One squad, atop their the AFC, claimed the last title played at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The other team, leading the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed running attack to complement an exceptional passing game.
A key matchup could be if the high-flying offence can handle the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch playoff matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from the quarterback about his star tight end fueled speculation about a potential departure.
Listening to him say, "every season... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. If the year concludes early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for Buffalo in a wintry win. He passed for 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's total touchdowns this season.
He is the first quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD throws and ten running scores in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Now, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they aim to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face next.
Key Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star wide receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher notched his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
- A reeling team saw its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game again with a related ailment.
