Every matchup counts at this stage, with some enormous conclusions in the fourteenth week that may settle play-off spots come the end of the year.
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off hopes, whereas Josh Allen virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence posed a huge problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation
Three massive division clashes delivered.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his team to a hard-fought close success in Baltimore. He scored his first rushing touchdown in almost three years, however it was his long passes to his star wideout that made the difference.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as his team missed key opportunities—although they were angry by a late touchdown being nullified. The two teams will meet again on the last weekend of the regular season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a epic contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing weather.
The result gave one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team dropped from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.
In Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to seven conference championship games and five Super Bowls. That means the team has competed in almost each available game throughout his time.
So, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were summed up during the recent loss. Absences decimated an already struggling offensive line, with several key players missing.
Even then, Mahomes provided his squad a fighting chance, but missed kicks and crucial drops—such as on a decisive fourth down play—sealed their downfall.
In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of top contenders from the western conferences are making compelling cases for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, atop their conference, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at February's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.
The second contender, atop the NFC, showcased an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable running game to complement an exceptional aerial game.
A key matchup would be if the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pass rush of the top defense—a a must-watch playoff matchup.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits?
Amid the aftermath from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked rumors about a potential departure.
Hearing Mahomes state, "each year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was bracing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.
"He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this season," he continued. If the year concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion winner could decide to walk away.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for three touchdowns and ran for another, responsible for a staggering portion of his team's total touchdowns this season.
He is the only player in NFL annals with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD throws and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 straight campaigns.
Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his shoulders again as they try to catch their division foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play next.
Key Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star receiver caught two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A feared defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
- An international kicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in soggy conditions.
- A team that was shutout one game responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling team watched its star QB return from injury, only to leave the game again with a similar injury.
