Aaron Rodgers Sustains Postseason Hopes Afloat, But Is It The Finish for the Kansas City Chiefs? Top Stories from NFL Week 14

Every matchup counts at this stage, with several enormous conclusions in week 14 that might settle play-off positions by the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers landed a major setback to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense presented a massive challenge and may have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.

Divisional Analysis: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Expectations

Three massive division clashes lived up to the hype.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his team to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running score in almost three years, however it was his deep throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—though they were left fuming by a late score being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final day of the regular season.

In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL saw a thrilling contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.

The outcome gave one team a slender advantage in their division, whereas the losers plummeted from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.

Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a decade.

In his seven complete years as a starter, he has reached seven conference championship games and 5 championship games. That indicates the club has competed in nearly each possible contest throughout his tenure.

Therefore, the reasons for the current struggles are clear and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with multiple starters missing.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, but failed kicks and critical drops—such as on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?

A pair of top contenders from the West Coast divisions are building strong cases for Super Bowl favorites.

One team, atop their conference, claimed the last Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, time-consuming possessions.

The other contender, leading the other conference, showcased an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable ground attack to complement an elite aerial attack.

The question could be whether the high-flying offence could handle the smothering pressure of the top defense—what would be a fascinating potential matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate sparked speculation about a potential retirement.

Listening to Mahomes say, "every season... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like he was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do following this season," he added. If the year ends early for the Chiefs, the three-time champion winner could decide to walk away.

Preview: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen passed for three touchdowns and ran for one more, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's total touchdowns this season.

He is the first player in league annals with 3,000 pass yards, twenty touchdown throws and ten rushing touchdowns in three straight seasons.

Next, he puts the Bills on his back again as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are exactly who they play this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

• Bills @ Patriots
• Lions @ Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A star wide receiver scored 2 touchdowns and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
• An international kicker 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 watched its franchise QB come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a similar ailment.