Every contest matters down the stretch, with a number of huge outcomes in the fourteenth week that might decide postseason spots by the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a significant challenge and may have finished the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation
Three massive division clashes lived up to the hype.
Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, guided his team to a hard-fought close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his initial running score in almost three years, however it was his long passes to his top receiver that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as his team missed key chances—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. These teams are scheduled to face off again on the last day of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the league witnessed a classic contest. Even with scoring deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another late-game rally from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing conditions.
The result gave one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the losers dropped from the NFC's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
During Mahomes' 7 complete years as a starter, he has advanced to seven conference championship contests and 5 championship games. This means the team has competed in nearly every available game during his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are clear and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already struggling O-line, with several starters missing.
Even then, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, but missed kicks and critical dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
Two powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are making compelling cases for championship favorites.
One team, atop their conference, claimed the most recent title played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and wins through methodical, time-consuming possessions.
The second contender, atop the other conference, demonstrated an dynamic offense capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a formidable ground game to complement an exceptional aerial attack.
A key matchup could be whether the potent offence could withstand the relentless pressure of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch playoff matchup.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end fueled speculation about a possible departure.
Hearing Mahomes state, "every season... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely seemed like he 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 season," he continued. Should the season concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x champion veteran could choose to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all once more for his team in a wintry win. He passed for 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's total scores this year.
Allen is the only quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand passing yards, 20 TD passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
Next, he puts the team on his shoulders once more as they try to catch their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star receiver scored two scores and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A offense that was shutout one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
- A struggling team saw its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest once more with a related injury.
