🔗 Share this article Rodgers Maintains Playoff Aspirations Breathing, But Is It The Conclusion for the Chiefs? Top Stories from NFL Week 14 Every matchup matters from here on in, with a number of huge outcomes in week 14 that could settle postseason spots come the conclusion of the campaign. A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a significant setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a huge challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure. The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Hype A trio of massive division clashes did not disappoint. Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his team to a gritty 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial running score in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his top receiver that proved to be the difference. The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—although they were left fuming by a late touchdown being chalked off. The two teams will meet once more on the last day of the season. In another, the longest-running feud in the league witnessed a classic contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to stop another late-game comeback from the visiting young QB in the frigid weather. The result gave one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, while the defeated team dropped from the conference's number one seed down to seventh. Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs? Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making 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 Mahomes' 7 complete years as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That means the team has competed in nearly each available contest throughout his time. Therefore, the causes for the current failure are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with several starters missing. Even then, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, but missed field goals and crucial drops—including on a key fourth-down play—sealed their downfall. Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US? A pair of top contenders from the West Coast divisions are building compelling cases for championship favorites. One team, leading their the AFC, won the last title played at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives. The second contender, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground game to complement an exceptional passing game. The question would be whether the high-flying offense could solve the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—what would be a must-watch potential matchup. Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits? Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end fueled rumors about a potential retirement. Hearing him state, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day. "The tight end will have the option to do what he wants to do after this campaign," he added. Should the season concludes early for the team, the 3x champion veteran could choose to retire. Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. He threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable portion of his offense's overall touchdowns this season. Allen is the only player in NFL annals with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD throws and ten rushing touchdowns in three straight seasons. Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their division foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play this coming Sunday. Major Upcoming Week Games: Buffalo Bills @ Patriots Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs This Week's Stats, Records & Notes A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense. A prolific wide receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season. A dominant defensive end notched his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record. An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in soggy conditions. A team that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next. A struggling franchise saw its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to leave the game once more with a related injury.