Every matchup matters from here on in, with a number of enormous results in the fourteenth week that may decide postseason berths come the end of the year.
A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a major setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a significant challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Hype
A trio of huge division clashes did not disappoint.
Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first rushing score in nearly three years, but it was his deep throws to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson was out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key chances—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. These teams will meet again on the final day of the season.
In another, the oldest feud in the league saw a classic encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing rookie quarterback in the frigid weather.
This outcome gave one side a narrow lead in their division, whereas the defeated team fell from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.
In Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and five championship games. This means the club has played nearly every possible game throughout his tenure.
Therefore, the causes for this year's failure are clear and were highlighted during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already questionable O-line, with multiple key players missing.
Even then, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, however missed kicks and critical dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth-down play—sealed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?
Two top contenders from the western divisions are building compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites.
One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the last Super Bowl played at this year's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, long drives.
The other team, leading the other conference, showcased an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable running game to pair with an exceptional passing attack.
The question would be if the potent offense could handle the relentless pass rush of the elite defensive unit—what would be a must-watch playoff matchup.
Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled speculation about a possible retirement.
Listening to him state, "every season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.
"The tight end will have the choice to do what he wants to do following this campaign," he added. If the year ends prematurely for the team, the 3x champion winner could decide to walk away.
Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate
Josh Allen did it all once more for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's total touchdowns this year.
He is the first quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten running touchdowns in 3 consecutive campaigns.
Now, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they aim to catch their division foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face next.
Key Upcoming Week Games:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Lions @ Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes
- A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
- A star wide receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A feared pass rusher recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
- An overseas kicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise win in soggy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
- A reeling team saw its star quarterback come back from injury, only to exit the game again with a related ailment.
