Each contest counts from here on in, with some huge results in the fourteenth week that could determine play-off positions by the conclusion of the year.
A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a big setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence presented a huge problem and could have finished the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.
The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Anticipation
A trio of huge divisional battles delivered.
Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a tough close victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running score in nearly three seasons, however it was his deep passes to his top receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.
The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were left fuming by a late touchdown being overturned. These franchises are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Even with scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to thwart another late-game rally from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.
The result handed one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team fell from the NFC's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.
In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.
During his 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and 5 Super Bowls. This means the team has competed in almost each available contest during his tenure.
So, the causes for the current struggles are clear and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Injuries decimated an already questionable O-line, with multiple key players missing.
Despite that, the quarterback gave his squad a chance, but failed kicks and critical drops—such as on a pivotal fourth-down play—sealed their fate.
In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?
A pair of top teams from the western divisions are building strong arguments for championship favorites.
One squad, atop their conference, won the last title played at February's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming possessions.
The other team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offense capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable ground attack to complement an exceptional passing game.
A key matchup would be whether the potent offence can withstand the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch potential showdown.
Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?
Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked talk about a potential retirement.
Hearing him state, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," he added. Should the season ends early for the Chiefs, the 3x champion winner might choose to retire.
Preview: Bills vs. New England Highlights Week 15
The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for Buffalo in a snowy victory. Allen passed for three touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering percentage of his offense's total scores this season.
Allen is the first quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, 20 TD throws and ten rushing scores in three straight seasons.
Next, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next.
Major Week 15 Matchups:
- Bills @ New England Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Packers @ Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A prolific receiver caught two scores and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
- A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
- An international placekicker helped his team in a surprise victory in rainy conditions.
- A offense that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
- A struggling team watched its franchise quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest once more with a similar injury.
