Every contest matters down the stretch, with a number of huge outcomes in week 14 that may determine postseason berths by the conclusion of the season.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a huge challenge and may have finished the Chiefs' season sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Hype
A trio of huge division clashes did not disappoint.
Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, guided his team to a tough close victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running score in almost three years, however it was his long throws to his top receiver that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson was out of sync as his team failed to capitalize on key chances—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. These teams will meet once more on the last day of the regular season.
In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to thwart another late-game comeback from the visiting young QB in the freezing weather.
This result handed one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, while the losers fell from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Projections give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.
In his seven complete seasons as a starter, he has advanced to seven conference championship games and five Super Bowls. That indicates the club has played nearly every available contest throughout his time.
Therefore, the reasons for the current struggles are evident and were summed up during the recent defeat. Absences decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players missing.
Despite that, Mahomes provided his squad a chance, but missed field goals and crucial drops—including on a pivotal fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the western divisions are making strong arguments for championship contention.
One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the last title played at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, time-consuming drives.
The second contender, leading the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed running game to pair with an exceptional passing attack.
The question would be whether the potent offense can handle the smothering pass rush of the elite defense—a a fascinating playoff matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked speculation about a possible retirement.
Hearing Mahomes state, "every season... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.
"He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do following this campaign," he continued. Should the year ends early for the team, the three-time Super Bowl veteran might decide to retire.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Highlights Week 15
Josh Allen did it all once more for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the only quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 consecutive seasons.
Now, he puts the Bills on his back again as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Week 15 Matchups:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Statistical Highlights
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star receiver caught two scores and is still 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 all-time mark.
- An international kicker helped his squad in a upset victory in soggy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling franchise saw its franchise quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the game again with a related ailment.
