Each contest counts from here on in, with some huge conclusions in the fourteenth week that could decide postseason positions by the conclusion of the year.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a massive challenge and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.
Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Expectations
Three huge divisional battles lived up to the hype.
Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, guided his team to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in Baltimore. He notched his first running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his long throws to his top receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—though they were angry by a late touchdown being nullified. These teams will meet once more on the last day of the season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Despite touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing weather.
The result handed one team a narrow lead in their division, whereas the losers plummeted from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?
Projections give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.
During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship games and five championship games. This indicates the team has competed in almost every possible contest during his time.
So, the reasons for this year's failure are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already questionable O-line, with several key players missing.
Even then, Mahomes gave his squad a chance, however missed field goals and critical drops—including on a key fourth down play—sealed their downfall.
In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?
Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast divisions are making compelling arguments for championship favorites.
One team, leading their the AFC, won the most recent title played at this year's stadium. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The second team, leading the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable running attack to complement an elite aerial attack.
The question could be whether the potent offense could withstand the smothering pressure of the top defensive unit—what would be a fascinating playoff matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end fueled rumors about a possible retirement.
Listening to Mahomes state, "each year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do following this season," Mahomes continued. Should the season ends early for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl veteran could choose to retire.
Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a wintry victory. He threw three touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his offense's total scores this year.
He is the only quarterback in league history with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD throws and 10 running touchdowns in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Next, he puts the Bills on his back again as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—and, that's exactly who they play this coming Sunday.
Major Week 15 Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A star wide receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant pass rusher recorded his 20th sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
- An overseas placekicker helped his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was shutout one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling franchise watched its star quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game again with a related injury.
