Each game matters from here on in, with a number of huge conclusions in the fourteenth week that could determine postseason berths come the end of the year.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence presented a huge problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation
A trio of critical division clashes did not disappoint.
Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his team to a gritty 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that made the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—though they were angry by a late touchdown being nullified. These franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the league witnessed a epic encounter. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing young QB in the freezing conditions.
The result handed one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the losers fell from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.
In his seven complete seasons as a starter, he has reached 7 conference championship contests and five Super Bowls. This indicates the team has played almost every possible game throughout his time.
So, the causes for this year's struggles are clear and were highlighted during the recent defeat. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with multiple starters missing.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his team a fighting chance, but failed kicks and costly dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?
A pair of top teams from the West Coast conferences are making compelling cases for Super Bowl contention.
One team, atop their conference, claimed the last Super Bowl played at this year's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the league in sacks and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The other contender, atop the NFC, showcased an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable ground game to complement an elite aerial attack.
The question could be if the high-flying offense can handle the smothering pass rush of the elite defense—a a fascinating playoff matchup.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end fueled talk about a potential retirement.
Listening to him say, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this season," he continued. If the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion winner could choose to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all again for Buffalo in a snowy win. He passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for another, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this year.
He is the first quarterback in league history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 straight campaigns.
Next, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their division foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they play next.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver scored 2 scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An overseas kicker helped his squad in a surprise win in soggy conditions.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling team saw its franchise QB come back from injury, only to leave the contest again with a similar ailment.
