Each game matters from here on in, with a number of enormous conclusions in week 14 that may determine postseason berths by the end of the year.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense presented a significant challenge and may have ended the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Expectations
Three huge rivalry games did not disappoint.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his team to a hard-fought close success in on the road. He notched his first running score in almost three years, however it was his deep throws to his star wideout that made the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key opportunities—though they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. These franchises are scheduled to face off again on the last day of the regular season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the league witnessed a thrilling encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to thwart another late-game comeback from the visiting young quarterback in the frigid conditions.
The outcome handed one side a slender lead in their NFC North, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's top spot down to seventh.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
During his 7 complete years as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. This indicates the club has played almost every available game during his tenure.
Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are apparent and were summed up during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already struggling O-line, with multiple starters out.
Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a fighting chance, but missed kicks and costly drops—such as on a key fourth down attempt—confirmed their fate.
In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
Two top teams from the West Coast divisions are making strong cases for Super Bowl contention.
One team, leading their conference, won the most recent title held at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The second team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground attack to complement an exceptional aerial game.
The question would be whether the high-flying offense could solve the smothering pressure of the top defense—a a must-watch potential matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end fueled speculation about a possible retirement.
Hearing Mahomes say, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," he added. If the season concludes early for the team, the three-time Super Bowl veteran could choose to walk away.
Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. He passed for three scores and rushed for one more, accounting 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 passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 consecutive seasons.
Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his back once more as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—and, that's precisely who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Upcoming Week Matchups:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
- A star wide receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An international placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was shutout one game responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise watched its star QB return from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a related ailment.
