🔗 Share this article Rodgers Keeps Playoff Hopes Breathing, Yet Could This Be The Finish for the Kansas City Chiefs? Top Stories from NFL the Fourteenth Week Every contest matters at this stage, with several enormous results in week 14 that might decide postseason positions by the end of the campaign. A 42-year-old veteran quarterback struck a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense posed a massive challenge and may have concluded the Chiefs' season sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure. The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Hype A trio of massive divisional battles did not disappoint. Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty 27-22 success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his initial running touchdown in nearly three years, however it was his deep passes to his star receiver that proved to be the deciding factor. The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the final weekend of the season. In another, the oldest feud in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing weather. This outcome gave one team a slender lead in their division, whereas the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed down to seventh. Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs? Statistical models give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years. During Mahomes' 7 complete years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to seven conference championship games and five Super Bowls. This indicates the club has played nearly every available contest during his tenure. So, the causes for the current struggles are apparent and were encapsulated during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already struggling O-line, with several key players missing. Even then, the quarterback provided his team a fighting chance, but failed kicks and critical dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall. Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West? Two top contenders from the western conferences are making strong cases for Super Bowl favorites. One team, atop their the AFC, won the last Super Bowl played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defence that leads the league in sacks and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives. The second contender, leading the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offense capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a formidable running game to complement an elite passing game. A key matchup would be if the potent offense can solve the relentless pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff matchup. Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement? Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked rumors about a potential departure. Listening to him state, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the veteran to call it a day. "The tight end will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do after this season," he continued. If the year ends early for the Chiefs, the three-time champion winner might choose to retire. Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15 Josh Allen put on a show once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. He passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's total touchdowns this season. He is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 passing yards, twenty TD passes and ten rushing scores in 3 straight seasons. Next, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the New England Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next. Major Week 15 Games: Buffalo Bills @ Patriots Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams Packers @ Broncos Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense. A star wide receiver scored two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season. A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the single-season mark. An international placekicker helped his squad in a upset win in soggy conditions. A offense that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week. A reeling team watched its franchise QB return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest once more with a related ailment.