Each contest counts down the stretch, with some massive conclusions in week 14 that could settle play-off berths come the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a significant setback to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence presented a massive challenge and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Expectations
A trio of massive divisional battles delivered.
Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his team to a tough 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first rushing score in nearly three years, however it was his deep passes to his star receiver that made the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key chances—although they were left fuming 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 saw a epic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young QB in the freezing weather.
This result handed one side a narrow lead in their division, whereas the losers dropped from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.
In Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls. This indicates the club has competed in almost every available game throughout his time.
So, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were summed up during the recent defeat. Absences decimated an already questionable O-line, with multiple key players missing.
Even then, the quarterback provided his team a fighting chance, however missed kicks and critical dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth down play—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of top contenders from the West Coast divisions are making compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One team, leading their conference, claimed the last Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defence that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The other team, leading the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a formidable running attack to pair with an elite passing game.
The question would be if the high-flying offence can solve the smothering pressure of the elite defense—what would be a fascinating 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 talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing him say, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do following this season," he continued. Should the year concludes early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran could choose to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights Week 15
Josh Allen did it all again for Buffalo in a snowy victory. He passed for three touchdowns and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's overall scores this season.
Allen is the first quarterback in league annals with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD throws and 10 running touchdowns in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Now, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they aim to chase down their division foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star wide receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
- An overseas placekicker helped his squad in a surprise win in soggy conditions.
- A offense that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
- A struggling team watched its star quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the contest again with a related ailment.
