Every game counts from here on in, with some huge results in the fourteenth week that may settle play-off berths come the conclusion of the campaign.
A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, while Josh Allen all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a huge problem and may have finished the Chiefs' season sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Hype
Three critical divisional battles delivered.
Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a gritty 27-22 victory in Baltimore. He notched his first rushing touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his deep passes to his top wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as his team missed key chances—though they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. The two teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final weekend of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a classic contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing weather.
This result handed one side a slender lead in their division, whereas the losers plummeted from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the postseason. Realistically, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
During Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and 5 Super Bowls. This means the team has played almost every available contest throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are clear and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with several starters missing.
Despite that, Mahomes gave his squad a chance, but failed field goals and crucial dropped passes—including on a key fourth down play—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast divisions are making compelling arguments for Super Bowl contention.
One team, leading their conference, won the last title played at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that leads the league in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The second team, leading the other conference, showcased an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable ground game to complement an elite aerial attack.
The question would be whether the potent offence could withstand the relentless pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a must-watch playoff matchup.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate fueled rumors about a possible departure.
Hearing him say, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this campaign," he continued. Should the season ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner could decide to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for Buffalo in a snowy win. He threw three touchdowns and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's total touchdowns this season.
Allen is the only player in league history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and ten rushing scores in three consecutive seasons.
Now, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they try to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A star receiver caught two scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An international placekicker helped his squad in a surprise victory in rainy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A struggling team saw its star quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game once more with a related injury.
