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Every contest is crucial at this stage, with a number of enormous outcomes in the fourteenth week that may settle postseason berths by the conclusion of the year.

A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a major blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, whereas Josh Allen all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a massive challenge and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Exceed the Expectations

Three massive divisional battles did not disappoint.

Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his team to a tough close success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running score in nearly three seasons, however it was his deep throws to his top wideout that made the difference.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as Baltimore missed crucial chances—though they were frustrated by a late score being overturned. These franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final weekend of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a classic contest. Despite scoring bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing rookie quarterback in the freezing weather.

The result gave one team a narrow lead in their division, while the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to seventh.

In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Projections give the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years.

During Mahomes' 7 complete years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and five Super Bowls. That indicates the team has played nearly each possible contest throughout his tenure.

So, the reasons for the current struggles are evident and were summed up during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with several key players missing.

Even then, Mahomes gave his squad a chance, however missed field goals and costly drops—such as on a decisive fourth-down play—sealed their fate.

Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?

Two top teams from the western divisions are making strong cases for championship contention.

One team, atop their the AFC, won the most recent title played at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, time-consuming possessions.

The other team, atop the other conference, showcased an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground game to complement an elite passing attack.

A key matchup could be whether the potent offense could solve the relentless pressure of the top defense—what would be a fascinating potential matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled speculation about a possible departure.

Hearing him state, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"He will have the choice to do what he wants to do following this campaign," Mahomes added. Should the season ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's total scores this year.

He is the only quarterback in league history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and 10 rushing scores in three straight campaigns.

Next, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face next.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

• Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A star receiver caught two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
• A team that was shutout one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A struggling franchise watched its franchise QB come back from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a similar injury.