Each game is crucial from here on in, with several huge results in the fourteenth week that could settle play-off berths come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas Josh Allen virtually ended Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense posed a huge problem and may have ended the Chiefs' season sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation
A trio of massive rivalry games lived up to the hype.
Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a tough close victory in on the road. He recorded his initial rushing score in almost three years, but it was his long throws to his star receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson was out of sync as his team missed key opportunities—although they were angry by a late touchdown being overturned. These franchises will meet once more on the last weekend of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the league saw a epic contest. Even with scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to thwart another late-game rally from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing weather.
The result handed one side a narrow advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's top spot all the way to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
In Mahomes' seven full years as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship games and five championship games. That indicates the club has competed in almost each available contest throughout his tenure.
So, the reasons for the current failure are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with several starters out.
Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, however failed field goals and critical drops—including on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
Two top teams from the western divisions are making compelling cases for championship contention.
One squad, leading their conference, claimed the most recent title played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.
The second team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a formidable running attack to pair with an elite aerial game.
The question could be if the potent offence could solve the smothering pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff matchup.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end sparked talk about a possible departure.
Listening to him state, "each year... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. Should the season ends prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl veteran could choose to walk away.
Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen put on a show once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. Allen threw 3 touchdowns and rushed for one more, accounting for a staggering percentage of his offense's overall scores this year.
Allen is the first player in league annals with three thousand pass yards, twenty touchdown passes and ten running touchdowns in 3 consecutive 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—and, that's exactly who they play next.
Major Week 15 Matchups:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver scored two scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
- A feared defensive end notched his 20th sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
- An overseas kicker helped his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A reeling franchise saw its star quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game again with a similar ailment.
