Each game counts from here on in, with some massive results in the fourteenth week that could settle postseason positions by the end of the campaign.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defense presented a huge problem and could have finished the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Hype
Three massive divisional battles delivered.
Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty close success in on the road. He scored his initial running touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson was out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. These teams will meet once more on the final day of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the league saw a epic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another late-game comeback from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing weather.
This result handed one team a narrow advantage in their division, while the losers dropped from the conference's top spot down to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% probability of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.
In his 7 full years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and five championship games. This means the team has played almost every available contest throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the causes for the current failure are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already questionable offensive line, with several starters missing.
Even then, the quarterback gave his squad a chance, however missed field goals and crucial drops—including on a decisive fourth down attempt—confirmed their downfall.
In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?
Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are building strong arguments for championship favorites.
One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent title held at February's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, long possessions.
The second team, atop the other conference, showcased an explosive offence capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable running attack to pair with an exceptional aerial game.
The question could be whether the high-flying offense can withstand the smothering pressure of the elite defense—a a must-watch playoff showdown.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate sparked talk about a potential retirement.
Listening to him say, "each season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the option to do what he chooses to do after this season," Mahomes added. Should the year ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time champion veteran could decide to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15
The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for his team in a snowy win. Allen passed for 3 scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the first player in NFL annals with three thousand passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and ten rushing scores in three straight seasons.
Next, he puts the team on his back once more as they try to catch their division rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are precisely who they face next.
Major Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A star receiver caught 2 scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season record.
- An international placekicker helped his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A offense that was shutout one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A reeling team watched its star QB come back from injury, only to exit the game once more with a similar ailment.
