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Each game counts at this stage, with a number of enormous conclusions in the fourteenth week that could settle postseason spots come the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a significant setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a significant challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.

Divisional Analysis: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Hype

A trio of massive divisional battles did not disappoint.

Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty close success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that made the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson was out of kilter as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. These franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last day of the season.

In another, the oldest feud in the league witnessed a epic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to halt another late-game rally from the opposing young QB in the freezing conditions.

This result handed one side a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team fell from the conference's top spot all the way to seventh.

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

Statistical models give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.

During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. This means the team has played nearly every available game during his time.

So, the causes for the current failure are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with multiple key players missing.

Despite that, Mahomes provided his squad a fighting chance, however failed field goals and crucial drops—such as on a pivotal fourth-down play—confirmed their downfall.

Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?

A pair of top teams from the West Coast conferences are building strong arguments for Super Bowl favorites.

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

The second team, atop the NFC, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable running attack to pair with an elite passing attack.

A key matchup could be if the potent offense can handle the smothering pressure of the top defense—a a must-watch potential showdown.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits?

Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate sparked rumors about a possible departure.

Listening to Mahomes say, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

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

Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen put on a show once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering portion of his offense's overall scores this season.

He is the first player in league history with three thousand passing yards, twenty touchdown throws and 10 running touchdowns in three consecutive campaigns.

Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face next.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star receiver caught two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time record.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset victory in soggy weather.
• A team that was shutout one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A reeling team saw its franchise QB return from injury, only to leave the game once more with a similar injury.