🔗 Share this article Rodgers Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive, Yet Is It The Finish for the Chiefs? Top Stories from NFL Week 14 Every matchup counts from here on in, with several massive results in the fourteenth week that might settle play-off berths come the end of the season. A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a significant setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a huge problem and could have finished the Chiefs' season earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure. Divisional Analysis: Division Showdowns Exceed the Hype Three huge division clashes delivered. Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, led his team to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running score in almost three seasons, but it was his deep passes to his star wideout that made the deciding factor. The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on crucial chances—though they were angry by a late score being nullified. The two teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final day of the regular season. Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the NFL saw a thrilling contest. Even with scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing weather. This result gave one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team fell from the conference's top spot all the way to outside the playoff picture. In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs? Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this will be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade. During his 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That means the team has competed in nearly every available contest during his time. Therefore, the causes for this year's failure are apparent and were summed up during the recent defeat. Injuries decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players missing. Even then, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, however missed kicks and costly drops—such as on a decisive fourth down attempt—confirmed their downfall. In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the West? A pair of powerhouse teams from the western conferences are building strong cases for Super Bowl contention. One squad, atop their conference, won the most recent title held at this year's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defence that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, long possessions. The other team, atop the other conference, showcased an high-powered offence capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a two-headed running attack to complement an elite passing game. The question could be if the high-flying offence could handle the relentless pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch potential showdown. Talking Point: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits? Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate fueled talk about a possible retirement. Listening to him say, "every year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats. "He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. Should the season concludes early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner could choose to retire. Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15 Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a snowy victory. Allen threw three touchdowns and rushed for one more, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's total touchdowns this year. He is the first quarterback in league history with three thousand pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten running touchdowns in 3 straight campaigns. Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his shoulders again as they aim to catch their division rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they play next. Major Week 15 Matchups: Bills @ Patriots Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams Packers @ Denver Broncos Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense. A star wide receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving. A dominant pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record. An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise victory in rainy conditions. A team that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next. A struggling franchise saw its franchise QB return from an elbow issue, only to exit the game again with a similar ailment.