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Each contest matters down the stretch, with a number of enormous results in week 14 that may determine play-off positions come the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a major blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defense presented a huge problem and may have concluded the Chiefs' season sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Hype

Three massive division clashes did not disappoint.

Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a tough 27-22 victory in Baltimore. He scored his initial running score in almost three years, but it was his long passes to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.

Lamar Jackson was out of sync as his team missed key opportunities—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. These franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the final weekend of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the league saw a classic encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to thwart another late-game rally from the visiting young QB in the frigid conditions.

The result gave one team a slender advantage in their division, while the losers plummeted from the conference's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.

Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City 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 franchise in a decade.

During his 7 complete years as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. That means the club has competed in nearly each available game throughout his tenure.

So, the causes for the current failure are clear and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Injuries ravaged an already struggling offensive line, with multiple starters out.

Despite that, Mahomes provided his squad a chance, but missed field goals and costly drops—including on a decisive fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?

A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast divisions are building compelling arguments for championship contention.

One team, leading their the AFC, won the most recent Super Bowl played at February's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, long drives.

The second contender, leading the NFC, showcased an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a two-headed ground attack to pair with an exceptional aerial game.

A key matchup would be if the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pass rush of the top defense—what would be a must-watch playoff matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits?

Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked speculation about a potential retirement.

Hearing Mahomes say, "each season... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do following this campaign," Mahomes continued. If the season concludes prematurely for the team, the three-time champion veteran could choose to walk away.

Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a wintry win. He passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's overall touchdowns this year.

He is the first quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand pass yards, 20 touchdown throws and ten running touchdowns in three straight campaigns.

Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders once more as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play this coming Sunday.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off return for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific receiver caught 2 scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
• A feared defensive end notched his twentieth QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
• An international placekicker helped his team in a upset victory in rainy conditions.
• A team that was shutout one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A reeling team saw its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the contest once more with a related injury.