Rodgers Sustains Playoff Hopes Alive, Yet Is It The Finish for the Chiefs? Key Moments from National Football League Week 14

Every matchup counts down the stretch, with several enormous conclusions in the fourteenth week that could settle postseason spots come the end of the year.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback struck a big blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence presented a significant problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.

Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Expectations

Three huge division clashes delivered.

Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a gritty close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running score in almost three seasons, however it was his deep throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as Baltimore missed key chances—though they were frustrated by a late touchdown being chalked off. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the final day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the NFL saw a thrilling encounter. Even with scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to thwart another late-game rally from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing weather.

The result handed one team a slender lead in their division, whereas the defeated team dropped from the conference's top spot all the way to outside the playoff picture.

Analysis: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?

Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.

During Mahomes' 7 full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That means the team has played nearly every possible contest throughout his time.

So, the causes for the current struggles are clear and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with several starters missing.

Even then, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, but failed field goals and critical dropped passes—including on a key fourth-down play—confirmed their fate.

Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?

A pair of top teams from the West Coast conferences are making strong arguments for championship contention.

One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the last title held at February's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming possessions.

The second team, atop the other conference, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running game to pair with an exceptional aerial attack.

The question could be whether the high-flying offence could withstand the smothering pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating potential matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?

Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate fueled rumors about a potential retirement.

Hearing Mahomes state, "each year... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," he continued. Should the season ends prematurely for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for his team in a wintry victory. He passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's total scores this year.

Allen is the only quarterback in league annals with 3,000 passing yards, twenty TD passes and ten running touchdowns in three straight campaigns.

Now, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they aim to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play next.

Key Week 15 Games:

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

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the season—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A star wide receiver caught two touchdowns and is still on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher recorded his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
• An international kicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise victory in rainy conditions.
• A offense that was shutout one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
• A reeling franchise watched its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a similar injury.