🔗 Share this article Rodgers Sustains Postseason Hopes Breathing, Yet Is It The End for the Chiefs? Key Moments from NFL Week 14 Every matchup matters from here on in, with several huge outcomes in the fourteenth week that might decide play-off spots come the conclusion of the campaign. A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a big setback to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defense presented a massive problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure. Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Expectations Three massive division clashes delivered. Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought close success in Baltimore. He scored his initial running score in almost three years, but it was his deep throws to his star receiver that proved to be the deciding factor. The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key opportunities—although they were angry by a late score being nullified. These teams will meet once more on the final day of the regular season. In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL witnessed a classic contest. Despite scoring bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing conditions. This outcome gave one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture. In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs? Statistical models give the Chiefs only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade. During Mahomes' 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to seven conference championship games and 5 championship games. That means the team has competed in nearly every possible game during his time. So, the reasons for the current struggles are evident and were summed up during the recent defeat. Injuries decimated an already questionable offensive line, with multiple starters out. Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a fighting chance, however failed kicks and costly drops—such as on a pivotal fourth down play—confirmed their downfall. In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US? Two top contenders from the western divisions are building strong arguments for Super Bowl contention. One squad, leading their the AFC, won the last Super Bowl held at this year's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming possessions. The second contender, leading the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable running attack to pair with an exceptional aerial game. The question could be if the high-flying offense could withstand the smothering pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating potential matchup. Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits? Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled talk about a possible departure. Hearing him state, "each season... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats. "The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do following this campaign," he added. If the year ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran could decide to walk away. Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate Josh Allen put on a show once more for Buffalo in a snowy win. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this season. Allen is the first quarterback in NFL annals with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in three straight campaigns. Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their division foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face this coming Sunday. Major Upcoming Week Matchups: Bills @ Patriots Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams Packers @ Broncos Chargers @ Chiefs This Week's Statistical Highlights A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense. A prolific wide receiver caught two scores and remains on course for a historic 2,000-yard season. A dominant defensive end notched his 20th sack of the season, moving within reach of the single-season record. An international placekicker played a key role for his team in a surprise win in rainy weather. A team that was shutout one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the next. A struggling franchise saw its star QB return from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a related ailment.