Each game is crucial from here on in, with a number of huge conclusions in week 14 that might determine play-off positions by the end of the year.
A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a significant blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence presented a huge problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Hype
Three huge divisional battles did not disappoint.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 win in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial rushing score in nearly three years, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that made the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final day of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the league saw a classic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to halt another late-game comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing weather.
The result handed one team a slender advantage in their division, whereas the defeated team fell from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.
In his 7 full years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and five championship games. That means the club has played almost every available game throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Injuries ravaged an already struggling O-line, with several key players missing.
Even then, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, however missed kicks and critical drops—including on a key fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of top teams from the western divisions are building strong cases for Super Bowl contention.
One squad, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defence that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, long drives.
The second contender, leading the NFC, demonstrated an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a two-headed ground attack to pair with an exceptional aerial attack.
The question would be if the high-flying offense could handle the relentless pass rush of the elite defensive unit—what would be a must-watch playoff showdown.
Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?
Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate fueled talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing Mahomes say, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do what he wants to do following this season," he added. If the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl winner might decide to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show once more for Buffalo in a snowy victory. He passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for one more, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his offense's overall scores this season.
Allen is the only quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty touchdown throws and ten running scores in 3 consecutive seasons.
Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they aim to catch their division foes, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A prolific receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An overseas placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise win in soggy conditions.
- A offense that was shutout one week responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise watched its star quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the game once more with a related ailment.
