Each game counts from here on in, with some enormous outcomes in week 14 that could determine postseason berths by the end of the year.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas Josh Allen virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense presented a huge challenge and could have finished the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Hype
Three massive divisional battles did not disappoint.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a tough 27-22 victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial rushing score in nearly three seasons, however it was his deep throws to his top wideout that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as his team missed crucial chances—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. The two teams will meet again on the final weekend of the regular season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a classic encounter. Even with scoring deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the frigid weather.
This outcome handed one team a narrow advantage in their division, while the defeated team dropped from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.
During Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship contests and five Super Bowls. That means the club has played nearly every available contest during his tenure.
So, the reasons for the current failure are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already dodgy O-line, with several starters missing.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a chance, but failed kicks and costly drops—including on a key fourth-down play—sealed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?
A pair of powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are building strong cases for Super Bowl contention.
One squad, atop their the AFC, won the most recent title played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defence that tops the league in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The second contender, leading the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a two-headed ground attack to complement an elite aerial game.
The question would be whether the potent offence could solve the smothering pressure of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch potential showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled rumors about a possible departure.
Hearing Mahomes say, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was bracing 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 year ends prematurely for the team, the three-time champion winner might decide to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all again for Buffalo in a snowy victory. Allen passed for 3 scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's total touchdowns this season.
Allen is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten rushing scores in three consecutive campaigns.
Now, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they aim to chase down their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—and, they are precisely who they face this coming Sunday.
Key Week 15 Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star receiver scored two touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record.
- An overseas kicker helped his team in a upset victory in soggy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
- A reeling team watched its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the game again with a similar injury.
