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Each game matters at this stage, with some massive results in week 14 that might decide postseason berths by the conclusion of the year.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a significant blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence presented a huge challenge and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Expectations

Three massive rivalry games did not disappoint.

Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a tough 27-22 success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer scored his first running score in nearly three seasons, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that made the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team missed crucial opportunities—although they were frustrated by a late touchdown being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final day of the season.

In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a classic contest. Despite touchdown bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another late-game rally from the opposing rookie quarterback in the frigid weather.

The outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their division, while the losers dropped from the conference's top spot all the way to outside the playoff picture.

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

Statistical models give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the play-offs. Realistically, this will be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.

In his seven full years as a starter, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and five Super Bowls. That indicates the team has played nearly each possible contest during his time.

Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are evident and were highlighted during the recent defeat. Injuries ravaged an already struggling offensive line, with several starters missing.

Despite that, the quarterback provided his team a fighting chance, but failed field goals and costly drops—such as on a decisive fourth down attempt—confirmed their downfall.

In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?

A pair of powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are building strong cases for championship contention.

One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl played at this year's stadium. They are built on a dominant defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, long drives.

The other contender, leading the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offence capable of scoring from any situation. They feature a formidable ground attack to complement an exceptional passing attack.

The question could be if the high-flying offence could solve the relentless pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff showdown.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a possible retirement.

Hearing him say, "every year... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do following this campaign," Mahomes continued. If the year concludes early for the team, the three-time champion winner could decide to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a snowy victory. He passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering portion of his offense's overall scores this year.

Allen is the only quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 straight seasons.

Next, he puts the team on his shoulders once more as they try to catch their division rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play next.

Major Week 15 Matchups:

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

Week 14 Statistical Highlights

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A star wide receiver caught two scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher notched his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in rainy conditions.
• A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A reeling team saw its franchise QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest again with a similar injury.