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Each game is crucial from here on in, with some huge outcomes in the fourteenth week that may settle postseason spots come the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a significant challenge and could have finished the Chiefs' season sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Expectations

Three critical rivalry games did not disappoint.

Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a hard-fought close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running touchdown in almost three years, but it was his long throws to his top wideout that proved to be the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as Baltimore missed key opportunities—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. The two teams will meet once more on the last weekend of the season.

Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL witnessed a classic contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game rally from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing conditions.

This result handed one side a narrow lead in their NFC North, whereas the defeated team plummeted from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?

Statistical models give the Chiefs only a 15% probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this will be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.

In Mahomes' 7 full seasons as a starter, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. This indicates the club has competed in almost each possible game throughout his tenure.

So, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Injuries ravaged an already questionable O-line, with several key players missing.

Despite that, Mahomes provided his team a chance, however failed field goals and costly dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth down play—confirmed their fate.

In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?

Two powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are building strong arguments for championship contention.

One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent title played at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The second contender, atop the NFC, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed running attack to pair with an exceptional passing game.

A key matchup could be if the high-flying offence can handle the smothering pass rush of the elite defense—what would be a must-watch potential showdown.

Talking Point: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled talk about a possible retirement.

Listening to him state, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do following this campaign," Mahomes added. If the season ends prematurely for the team, the three-time champion winner could decide to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy win. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his offense's total touchdowns this year.

He is the only quarterback in league history with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD passes and 10 running scores in three straight seasons.

Now, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they try to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they face next.

Major Week 15 Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
• Lions @ Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Chargers @ Chiefs

Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific receiver scored 2 scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, closing in of the single-season mark.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in rainy weather.
• A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A struggling team saw its franchise QB come back from injury, only to leave the contest again with a similar injury.