🔗 Share this article Rodgers Keeps Playoff Hopes Breathing, Yet Could This Be The Conclusion for the Kansas City Chiefs? Key Moments from National Football League the Fourteenth Week Every contest matters at this stage, with a number of enormous results in the fourteenth week that might settle postseason positions by the conclusion of the season. A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a major blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant problem and may have finished the Chiefs' season sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure. The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Hype Three massive division clashes did not disappoint. Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a tough close win in on the road. He recorded his initial running score in almost three years, however it was his deep throws to his star receiver that proved to be the difference. The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as his team failed to capitalize on key opportunities—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being overturned. These teams are scheduled to face off again on the last day of the regular season. Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the league witnessed a thrilling contest. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young quarterback in the freezing weather. This outcome gave one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team fell from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture. In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs? Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade. During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship contests and five Super Bowls. That means the team has played almost each possible contest during his tenure. Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players missing. Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, but missed field goals and critical dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall. Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US? A pair of powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are making strong arguments for championship favorites. One squad, leading their the AFC, won the most recent Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and wins through methodical, time-consuming possessions. The second team, leading the NFC, showcased an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable running attack to pair with an elite aerial attack. A key matchup would be whether the potent offense could solve the relentless pressure of the elite defense—what would be a must-watch playoff matchup. Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits? Among the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end sparked rumors about a potential retirement. Hearing him state, "every year... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day. "The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do following this season," Mahomes added. If the season ends prematurely for the team, the 3x champion veteran could choose to retire. Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights Week 15 Josh Allen did it all again for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw 3 touchdowns and rushed for one more, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's overall scores this season. He is the first player in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten running touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. Next, he puts the Bills on his back again as they try to catch their division foes, the New England Patriots—and, that's precisely who they face next. Key Upcoming Week Games: Bills @ Patriots Detroit Lions @ Rams Packers @ Broncos Chargers @ Chiefs This Week's Stats, Records & Notes A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team. A star wide receiver scored 2 scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season. A feared defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record. An overseas placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise win in soggy weather. A offense that was shutout one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next. A reeling team saw its franchise quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a related injury.