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Every contest counts at this stage, with some huge conclusions in the fourteenth week that might decide postseason spots come the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers struck a big blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, while Josh Allen all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a massive challenge and may have ended the Chiefs' season sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.

Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Expectations

Three massive division clashes lived up to the hype.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a gritty 27-22 success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his first rushing touchdown in almost three years, but it was his long passes to his top receiver that made the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being overturned. The two franchises will meet again on the last day of the regular season.

In another, the oldest feud in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to halt another late-game rally from the opposing rookie QB in the frigid conditions.

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

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections assign the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

In his 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls. That indicates the club has competed in almost every possible contest during his tenure.

Therefore, the reasons for this year's failure are evident and were encapsulated during the recent defeat. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with several key players out.

Even then, the quarterback gave his squad a fighting chance, however missed field goals and crucial drops—such as on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

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

Two powerhouse contenders from the West Coast divisions are making strong arguments for Super Bowl favorites.

One squad, atop their conference, won the last Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and wins through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The other team, atop the other conference, showcased an high-powered offence capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a formidable ground game to pair with an exceptional aerial game.

A key matchup would be whether the potent offence can handle the relentless pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch potential showdown.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?

Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end fueled talk about a potential departure.

Listening to him say, "each year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.

"The tight end will have the option to do what he wants to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. If the year concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran could decide to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. Allen passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering portion of his offense's overall scores this year.

Allen is the only player in NFL history with three thousand pass yards, twenty touchdown passes and ten rushing touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.

Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his back again as they aim to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they play this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star receiver caught two touchdowns and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
• A feared pass rusher notched his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
• An international placekicker helped his team in a upset victory in soggy weather.
• A team that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A reeling franchise saw its star QB return from injury, only to exit the game again with a related injury.