🔗 Share this article Aaron Rodgers Maintains Postseason Aspirations Breathing, But Is It The Conclusion for the Chiefs? Highlights from NFL Week 14 Every game matters down the stretch, with a number of enormous conclusions in week 14 that may decide play-off berths come the end of the year. A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a significant blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defense presented a massive challenge and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Mahomes era. The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Expectations A trio of massive division clashes did not disappoint. Veteran quarterback Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial running touchdown in almost three years, but it was his deep throws to his top receiver that proved to be the difference. Lamar Jackson seemed off rhythm as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. The two franchises will meet once more on the last weekend of the season. Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the league saw a classic encounter. Despite touchdown bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another late-game comeback from the visiting young quarterback in the frigid conditions. This result gave one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, whereas the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture. In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs? Projections assign the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade. In his 7 full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls. This means the team has played almost every available contest throughout his time. Therefore, the causes for this year's struggles are clear and were encapsulated during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already dodgy offensive line, with several starters out. Even then, the quarterback provided his team a chance, however failed field goals and critical dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth-down attempt—sealed their fate. In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West? A pair of powerhouse contenders from the western divisions are building compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites. One squad, leading their conference, claimed the last Super Bowl played at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the league in sacks and wins through methodical, long drives. The other contender, leading the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offence capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running game to complement an exceptional passing attack. A key matchup could be if the potent offence could withstand the smothering pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a must-watch potential matchup. Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits? Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's defeat, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate sparked talk about a potential retirement. Listening to him say, "each season... I try to cherish because you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats. "He will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this season," he continued. If the season ends early for the team, the three-time Super Bowl winner might choose to retire. Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines Week 15 The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a wintry victory. Allen passed for 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this year. He is the only quarterback in NFL annals with 3,000 pass yards, 20 TD throws and 10 running scores in three consecutive seasons. Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his back once more as they aim to chase down their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play this coming Sunday. Key Week 15 Matchups: Bills @ Patriots Detroit Lions @ Rams Packers @ Denver Broncos Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense. A prolific receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season. A feared defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the season, moving within reach of the single-season record. An international kicker helped his team in a upset victory in rainy weather. A team that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next. A reeling franchise saw its franchise quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a related ailment.