🔗 Share this article Rodgers Sustains Playoff Aspirations Breathing, But Could This Be The Conclusion for the Chiefs? Highlights from National Football League Week 14 Every matchup is crucial at this stage, with several massive results in week 14 that could settle postseason positions come the conclusion of the season. A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a major setback to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, while Josh Allen all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defense presented a huge challenge and may have concluded the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever before in the Mahomes tenure. Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Hype Three huge rivalry games delivered. Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his team to a gritty 27-22 success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial rushing score in almost three years, but it was his long passes to his star wideout that made the difference. The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on key chances—although they were left fuming by a late score being nullified. The two teams are scheduled to face off once more on the last day of the regular season. Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a thrilling encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to halt another late-game comeback from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing conditions. This outcome gave one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, while the losers fell from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh. In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs? Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this could be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade. During Mahomes' 7 full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to seven conference championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. That indicates the team has played almost every available contest throughout his time. Therefore, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were encapsulated during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already struggling O-line, with multiple key players missing. Despite that, the quarterback gave his team a chance, however missed field goals and crucial drops—including on a key fourth-down play—sealed their downfall. In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US? A pair of top contenders from the West Coast conferences are building strong cases for championship favorites. One team, leading their the AFC, won the last title played at this year's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming possessions. The other contender, atop the other conference, showcased an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground attack to pair with an elite passing game. A key matchup could be whether the potent offense could solve the smothering pressure of the elite defense—what would be a must-watch potential showdown. Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits? Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end fueled rumors about a potential departure. Hearing him state, "every season... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day. "He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this season," Mahomes continued. If the year ends prematurely for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might choose to walk away. Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a wintry victory. He passed for three scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall scores this season. Allen is the only quarterback in league annals with three thousand passing yards, 20 TD passes and ten rushing scores in three consecutive campaigns. Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his back once more as they try to chase down their division foes, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next. Key Week 15 Games: Bills @ Patriots Lions @ Los Angeles Rams Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs This Week's Statistical Highlights A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team. A prolific wide receiver scored 2 scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season. A feared pass rusher notched his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time mark. An overseas kicker played a key role for his team in a surprise win in soggy conditions. A team that was held scoreless one week responded with a shutout of its own the next. A struggling franchise saw its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to leave the game once more with a similar ailment.