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Each contest is crucial at this stage, with some huge outcomes in week 14 that could decide postseason spots by the end of the season.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a significant setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, whereas Josh Allen all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a massive problem and may have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Expectations

A trio of huge rivalry games lived up to the hype.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty close victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his first rushing touchdown in almost three years, however it was his deep passes to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on crucial chances—though they were angry by a late score being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final weekend of the regular season.

In another, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a epic contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to stop another late-game rally from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing conditions.

The result gave one team a slender lead in their division, while the losers fell from the NFC's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.

In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections assign the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.

During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship games and 5 Super Bowls. This indicates the team has competed in almost every available contest throughout his time.

So, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with several key players missing.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his squad a chance, however missed field goals and costly drops—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—confirmed their fate.

Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?

A pair of top contenders from the West Coast divisions are building compelling cases for championship favorites.

One squad, atop their the AFC, won the last title played at February's venue. They are built on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through grinding, long possessions.

The other team, leading the NFC, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed running attack to complement an elite passing attack.

A key matchup would be whether the potent offence can withstand the relentless pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch potential matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a potential retirement.

Listening to Mahomes say, "each season... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the option to do what he wants to do following this campaign," Mahomes continued. If the year concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion winner could choose to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a snowy win. He passed for three scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his team's overall touchdowns this season.

Allen is the first player in league history with three thousand passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and ten rushing touchdowns in 3 straight seasons.

Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they play next.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
• Lions @ Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star wide receiver scored two scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher notched his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
• An international placekicker helped his team in a upset victory in rainy conditions.
• A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A struggling team saw its franchise quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest once more with a similar injury.