🔗 Share this article Aaron Rodgers Keeps Postseason Hopes Alive, But Is It The End for the Chiefs? Highlights from NFL the Fourteenth Week Every contest counts at this stage, with some huge conclusions in week 14 that could settle play-off spots come the end of the campaign. A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a major setback to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense presented a massive challenge and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era. Divisional Analysis: Division Showdowns Exceed the Expectations Three huge rivalry games delivered. Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a gritty 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his first rushing touchdown in nearly three years, but it was his deep throws to his star wideout that made the difference. Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on crucial chances—though they were angry by a late score being nullified. These franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the season. Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the league witnessed a classic contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young QB in the frigid conditions. The outcome gave one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed down to seventh. In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs? Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a ten years. During his seven full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship games and five championship games. That indicates the team has played nearly every possible contest during his time. So, the reasons for this year's struggles are apparent and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable O-line, with several key players missing. Even then, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, but failed field goals and costly drops—including on a decisive fourth down attempt—confirmed their downfall. In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US? A pair of top teams from the western divisions are making compelling cases for championship favorites. One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the last Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the league in sacks and victories through methodical, long possessions. The second team, atop the other conference, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a formidable ground game to complement an elite passing game. A key matchup would be if the high-flying offence can solve the smothering pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating potential showdown. Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement? Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled speculation about a possible departure. Hearing Mahomes say, "every season... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day. "He will have the choice to do what he chooses to do following this campaign," he continued. If the season ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl veteran might choose to walk away. Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines Week 15 Josh Allen put on a show again for his team in a snowy victory. Allen threw three scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's total touchdowns this year. He is the only quarterback in league history with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD throws and ten running scores in 3 straight seasons. Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play this coming Sunday. Major Week 15 Games: Bills @ Patriots Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs This Week's Statistical Highlights A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense. A star receiver scored 2 scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving. A feared pass rusher notched his 20th 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 win in soggy conditions. A offense that was shutout one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next. A reeling franchise watched its franchise QB come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the game again with a similar injury.