Each contest counts from here on in, with some massive outcomes in week 14 that might decide play-off berths come the end of the campaign.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a major blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually ended Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence presented a massive challenge and could have ended the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation
A trio of critical division clashes lived up to the hype.
Veteran quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a tough 27-22 success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his first running score in nearly three years, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as his team missed crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. The two teams will meet once more on the final day of the season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL witnessed a thrilling contest. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another late-game comeback from the opposing young QB in the frigid conditions.
The result handed one side a narrow lead in their NFC North, whereas the losers plummeted from the conference's number one seed all the way to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
In Mahomes' 7 full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and 5 championship games. That means the team has played nearly each possible contest throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with multiple starters missing.
Even then, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, but failed field goals and costly drops—such as on a key fourth-down attempt—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?
Two powerhouse contenders from the western divisions are making compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the most recent title played at this year's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, long drives.
The second team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a formidable running game to pair with an exceptional passing attack.
A key matchup would be if the potent offence could handle the relentless pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a must-watch potential matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?
Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a possible retirement.
Hearing him say, "every year... I try to appreciate 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 option to do whatever he wants to do after this campaign," he added. Should the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion veteran might decide to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all again for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his offense's total touchdowns this year.
He is the only player in league annals with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD throws and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 straight seasons.
Next, he puts the team on his back again as they try to chase down their division rivals, the New England Patriots—and, that's exactly who they play next.
Major Week 15 Matchups:
- Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A prolific wide receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher notched his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An international kicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in soggy weather.
- A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A struggling franchise saw its franchise quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the game once more with a similar ailment.
