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Each game matters from here on in, with a number of enormous outcomes in week 14 that could decide postseason spots come the end of the campaign.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a major blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence posed a huge problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.

Divisional Analysis: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation

A trio of massive divisional battles did not disappoint.

Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a gritty close success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first rushing score in nearly three seasons, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as his team missed key opportunities—although they were angry by a late score being chalked off. The two franchises will meet once more on the final day of the season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a thrilling contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to thwart another late-game comeback from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.

The outcome gave one side a narrow advantage in their division, whereas the losers plummeted from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.

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

Statistical models give the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.

During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. That indicates the club has competed in almost each available game during his time.

So, the causes for the current failure are evident and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Absences ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with multiple starters out.

Despite that, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, but missed field goals and critical drops—such as on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?

Two top teams from the West Coast conferences are building strong cases for championship favorites.

One squad, leading their the AFC, won the last title held at this year's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming possessions.

The second team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground attack to complement an elite aerial attack.

The question would be whether the high-flying offense can handle the smothering pressure of the top defense—what would be a must-watch playoff matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?

Among the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime tight end sparked talk about a potential departure.

Hearing him say, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do after this campaign," he added. If the year concludes prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl veteran might decide to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15

Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen passed for 3 touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his offense's overall scores this year.

He is the only player in NFL history with three thousand passing yards, twenty touchdown passes and ten rushing touchdowns in three straight seasons.

Now, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they try to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they face next.

Major Upcoming Week Games:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A prolific wide receiver scored two scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
• An international kicker helped his squad in a upset win in soggy conditions.
• A offense that was shutout one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A reeling franchise watched its star QB come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a similar ailment.