Each game matters from here on in, with some huge conclusions in week 14 that might settle play-off berths by the conclusion of the campaign.
A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a major blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, whereas Josh Allen virtually ended Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense presented a huge challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.
The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Hype
A trio of huge divisional battles did not disappoint.
Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a gritty 27-22 success in Baltimore. He notched his first rushing touchdown in almost three years, however it was his deep passes to his star wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.
Lamar Jackson was out of kilter as his team missed key chances—though they were frustrated by a late touchdown being overturned. These franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the final day of the regular season.
Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the league witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite scoring bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to stop another late-game comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the frigid conditions.
This result handed one team a narrow lead in their division, while the losers dropped from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.
Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?
Statistical models give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of reaching the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.
In Mahomes' 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship games and five championship games. That indicates the team has played nearly every possible game throughout his time.
So, the reasons for the current struggles are apparent and were highlighted during the recent defeat. Injuries decimated an already dodgy O-line, with several starters out.
Despite that, the quarterback gave his squad a fighting chance, but missed field goals and critical drops—such as on a key fourth down play—confirmed their downfall.
Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the West?
A pair of top contenders from the western divisions are building strong arguments for championship favorites.
One team, atop their conference, won the last Super Bowl played at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.
The other contender, atop the NFC, showcased an high-powered offense capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a two-headed running game to pair with an elite aerial game.
A key matchup could be if the high-flying offense can withstand the relentless pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff showdown.
Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?
Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate sparked speculation about a potential departure.
Hearing Mahomes state, "each season... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.
"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do following this campaign," Mahomes added. If the year concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x champion veteran could choose to walk away.
Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines Week 15
Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a snowy victory. He passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for another, accounting for a staggering percentage of his team's total touchdowns this year.
Allen is the first quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they aim to chase down their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they play this coming Sunday.
Key Week 15 Games:
- Bills @ Patriots
- Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
- Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
This Week's Stats, Records & Notes
- A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
- A star wide receiver caught two scores and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
- A dominant defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
- An international placekicker helped his squad in a surprise win in soggy weather.
- A team that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
- A reeling team saw its franchise quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest once more with a similar injury.
