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Every matchup matters at this stage, with several enormous results in the fourteenth week that might settle play-off berths by the end of the year.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback struck a big setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence posed a significant problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation

A trio of massive divisional battles delivered.

Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a tough 27-22 success in on the road. He scored his first rushing touchdown in nearly three years, however it was his long passes to his star wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—although they were frustrated by a late score being nullified. The two teams will meet again on the final weekend of the season.

In another, the oldest rivalry in the league saw a thrilling encounter. Despite touchdown bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting young QB in the freezing weather.

The outcome handed one team a slender lead in their division, while the defeated team fell from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.

In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Statistical models give the Kansas City only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.

During Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starter, he has reached seven conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That means the club has competed in almost every available contest during his time.

Therefore, the reasons for the current struggles are clear and were encapsulated during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with multiple key players missing.

Even then, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, however missed field goals and critical dropped passes—such as on a key fourth-down attempt—sealed their downfall.

Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?

Two top contenders from the West Coast conferences are making strong cases for Super Bowl contention.

One team, leading their conference, won the most recent Super Bowl held at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.

The other contender, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable running game to pair with an elite passing game.

A key matchup would be whether the potent offence can solve the smothering pressure of the top defense—what would be a fascinating potential matchup.

Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate sparked speculation about a possible retirement.

Listening to him say, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.

"The tight end will have the option to do whatever he wants to do following this season," he continued. 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

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a snowy win. He threw 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this year.

He is the first quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand passing yards, twenty touchdown throws and 10 rushing scores in three consecutive campaigns.

Now, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they try to catch their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.

Major Week 15 Games:

• Bills @ Patriots
• Lions @ Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A star receiver caught two touchdowns and remains on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
• A feared defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a surprise win in rainy weather.
• A offense that was shutout one week responded with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A reeling team watched its star QB return from injury, only to exit the game again with a related ailment.