Every contest is crucial from here on in, with several enormous conclusions in week 14 that could decide postseason spots by the end of the season.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defense posed a massive problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation
Three critical division clashes delivered.
Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a gritty 27-22 victory in Baltimore. He recorded his initial rushing touchdown in nearly three seasons, however it was his long throws to his top receiver that made the difference.
Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as Baltimore missed key chances—although they were angry by a late score being chalked off. These teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final weekend of the season.
In another, the oldest rivalry in the league witnessed a epic contest. Despite scoring bombs, an exhausted defense had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young QB in the freezing conditions.
The result gave one side a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team dropped from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.
Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?
Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a ten years.
In Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and five championship games. That means the club has competed in nearly every available contest throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the reasons for the current struggles are evident and were highlighted during the recent loss. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with multiple starters missing.
Even then, the quarterback provided his squad a fighting chance, but missed field goals and critical drops—including on a decisive fourth-down attempt—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?
A pair of powerhouse teams from the western divisions are building strong arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One squad, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent title played at this year's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defence that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The other contender, atop the other conference, showcased an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable running game to complement an elite passing attack.
The question could be if the potent offense could solve the smothering pressure of the top defense—what would be a must-watch potential matchup.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end sparked talk about a potential retirement.
Listening to him say, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the choice to do what he wants to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. Should the year concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl winner could decide to walk away.
Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate
The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for Buffalo in a snowy victory. He threw 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering percentage of his team's total touchdowns this season.
He is the only quarterback in league annals with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD throws and 10 running scores in three straight campaigns.
Next, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face this coming Sunday.
Major Week 15 Matchups:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
- A star receiver scored 2 scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the all-time mark.
- An overseas 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 clean sheet of its own the next.
- A struggling team saw its star quarterback return from injury, only to leave the game again with a similar injury.
