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Each game matters down the stretch, with a number of massive conclusions in week 14 that might settle play-off positions come the end of the campaign.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a significant blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence presented a massive challenge and may have ended the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Expectations

Three massive rivalry games did not disappoint.

Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty close victory in on the road. He notched his first running score in nearly three years, however it was his long passes to his top wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson was off rhythm as his team missed crucial opportunities—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. The two teams will meet again on the final weekend of the regular season.

In another, the oldest feud in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to thwart another late-game rally from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.

The outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their division, while the losers dropped from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.

Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

During Mahomes' 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and five championship games. This indicates the team has played almost each available contest during his tenure.

So, the causes for this year's failure are clear and were summed up during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already struggling O-line, with multiple starters out.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, however missed field goals and costly drops—including on a decisive fourth down attempt—confirmed their fate.

Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?

A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are building strong arguments for championship favorites.

One team, atop their conference, claimed the most recent title played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defense that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.

The other contender, atop the NFC, demonstrated an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable running attack to complement an exceptional passing attack.

A key matchup could be if the high-flying offense could withstand the smothering pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked speculation about a possible retirement.

Listening to him say, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do following this campaign," Mahomes continued. If the season ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might choose to retire.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen put on a show again for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's total scores this year.

Allen is the only player in league history with 3,000 pass yards, 20 touchdown passes and ten running touchdowns in three straight seasons.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they aim to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Chargers @ Chiefs

Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific receiver scored two scores and remains on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
• An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset victory in soggy weather.
• A offense that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A struggling franchise watched its franchise quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the game once more with a related injury.