🔗 Share this article Aaron Rodgers Keeps Postseason Dreams Breathing, But Is It The Finish for the Chiefs? Top Stories from National Football League Week 14 Every matchup is crucial from here on in, with several massive conclusions in week 14 that could determine postseason positions by the end of the year. A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense posed a huge problem and may have finished the Chiefs' season sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure. The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation Three huge rivalry games did not disappoint. Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a tough close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running touchdown in nearly three seasons, however it was his long throws to his star receiver that made the difference. The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as Baltimore missed key opportunities—though they were angry by a late score being nullified. These teams are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the regular season. In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a thrilling contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing weather. This outcome handed one side a slender lead in their division, while the defeated team dropped from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture. Analysis: What Has Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs? Projections give the Chiefs only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a ten years. In his 7 full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship games and 5 Super Bowls. That means the team has played nearly each available game throughout his time. Therefore, the reasons for the current struggles are apparent and were summed up during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with several key players out. Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a fighting chance, however failed field goals and critical drops—including on a decisive fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall. Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US? Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are building compelling arguments for Super Bowl contention. One squad, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent title held at this year's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through methodical, long drives. The second team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable ground attack to pair with an exceptional passing attack. A key matchup could be if the potent offense could handle the relentless pass rush of the top defense—what would be a fascinating playoff matchup. Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits? Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate fueled talk about a potential departure. Hearing Mahomes say, "every year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely sounded like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day. "The tight end will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do after this season," Mahomes continued. If the year concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to retire. Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15 Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a snowy win. He threw 3 scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a remarkable portion of his team's total scores this season. He is the only quarterback in NFL annals with 3,000 passing yards, twenty TD passes and ten running touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. Next, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face next. Major Week 15 Matchups: Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams Packers @ Denver Broncos Chargers @ Chiefs Week 14 Statistical Highlights A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team. A star wide receiver scored two scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving. A dominant pass rusher recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time record. An international kicker helped his team in a surprise victory in soggy conditions. A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the next. A reeling team watched its star QB come back from injury, only to leave the game once more with a related ailment.