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Each game is crucial at this stage, with some huge conclusions in the fourteenth week that might determine play-off positions by the conclusion of the year.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defence presented a massive problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Hype

Three massive division clashes delivered.

Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running score in nearly three years, but it was his long passes to his star wideout that made the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as his team missed key chances—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. These teams will meet again on the final day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the league saw a epic encounter. Despite scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie quarterback in the freezing conditions.

This outcome handed one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Projections give the Chiefs only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

In Mahomes' 7 full years as a starter, he has advanced to seven conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the team has played almost every available contest during his tenure.

Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are evident and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Injuries decimated an already questionable offensive line, with several key players out.

Despite that, the quarterback gave his squad a fighting chance, however missed field goals and crucial dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth down attempt—confirmed their fate.

In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?

A pair of top contenders from the western conferences are making strong cases for Super Bowl favorites.

One team, leading their conference, won the last Super Bowl held at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defense that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.

The other contender, atop the other conference, showcased an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a formidable running attack to complement an elite aerial attack.

A key matchup would be if the high-flying offence can solve the smothering pressure of the top defensive unit—what would be a must-watch playoff showdown.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits?

Amid the aftermath from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked rumors about a possible retirement.

Hearing him state, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do following this season," Mahomes added. If the season concludes early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner could decide to walk away.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen did it all again for Buffalo in a wintry victory. He threw 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his team's total scores this year.

Allen is the first player in league annals with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD throws and 10 running scores in three straight campaigns.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they aim to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A star receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
• An overseas kicker helped his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
• A offense that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
• A struggling franchise watched its franchise QB return from an elbow issue, only to leave the game once more with a related injury.