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Every game counts at this stage, with some massive outcomes in week 14 that could settle postseason berths by the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a big blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, whereas Josh Allen virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant problem and could have finished the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation

Three massive division clashes did not disappoint.

Seasoned signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial running score in nearly three seasons, but it was his deep throws to his top wideout that proved to be the difference.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as his team failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—though they were frustrated by a late score being nullified. The two teams are scheduled to face off once more on the last day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running feud in the league saw a classic contest. Even with scoring deep passes, an worn-out defense had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing weather.

This result gave one team a slender advantage in their division, whereas the losers dropped from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.

In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?

Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.

During his 7 full seasons as a starter, he has reached 7 conference championship games and 5 championship games. That means the team has played almost every available game during his tenure.

Therefore, the causes for the current failure are evident and were encapsulated during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already struggling offensive line, with several key players missing.

Despite that, Mahomes provided his squad a chance, however failed kicks and crucial drops—including on a pivotal fourth down play—confirmed their fate.

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

Two powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are making strong arguments for Super Bowl contention.

One squad, leading their the AFC, won the most recent Super Bowl played at this year's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the league in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The other contender, leading the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable running game to pair with an exceptional aerial attack.

The question could be if the high-flying offense could solve the relentless pressure of the elite defensive unit—what would be a must-watch potential showdown.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled speculation about a possible departure.

Listening to Mahomes state, "each year... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do following this season," Mahomes continued. Should the season concludes early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner could decide to retire.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a wintry win. He threw 3 touchdowns and ran for another, accounting for a staggering percentage of his team's total scores this year.

Allen is the only quarterback in league history with three thousand pass yards, 20 TD passes and ten rushing touchdowns in 3 consecutive campaigns.

Next, he puts the Bills on his back again as they try to catch their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they face next.

Major Week 15 Matchups:

• Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Chargers @ Chiefs

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
• A prolific receiver scored two scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant pass rusher recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
• An international placekicker helped his squad in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
• A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A struggling team watched its franchise quarterback come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a related ailment.