Aaron Rodgers Sustains Postseason Aspirations Breathing, But Is It The Finish for the Kansas City Chiefs? Key Moments from National Football League Week 14

Each game is crucial at this stage, with a number of huge outcomes in week 14 that may determine play-off positions come the end of the season.

A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a significant blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a huge challenge and may have finished the Chiefs' season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.

Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation

Three huge division clashes delivered.

Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, guided his team to a tough close success in on the road. He recorded his initial rushing score in nearly three seasons, however it was his long throws to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. These teams are scheduled to face off again on the last day of the season.

In another, the longest-running feud in the league saw a classic contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another late-game comeback from the visiting young QB in the freezing weather.

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

In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections assign the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

During Mahomes' seven full years as a starter, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and five Super Bowls. That means the team has played nearly each possible game throughout his tenure.

So, the reasons for this year's failure are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Injuries ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with several starters missing.

Even then, the quarterback gave his squad a fighting chance, but failed field goals and critical drops—including on a decisive fourth-down attempt—sealed their fate.

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

Two powerhouse teams from the western conferences are making compelling cases for championship favorites.

One team, atop their conference, won the most recent title held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, time-consuming possessions.

The second contender, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a two-headed running attack to pair with an exceptional passing game.

The question could be whether the high-flying offence can solve the relentless pressure of the elite defense—what would be a must-watch potential matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?

Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked talk about a possible departure.

Listening to Mahomes state, "each year... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do after this season," Mahomes added. Should the season ends early for the team, the 3x champion winner could choose to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. New England Highlights Week 15

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for three scores and ran for another, responsible for a remarkable portion of his team's overall touchdowns this year.

He is the first player in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, twenty TD passes and 10 rushing scores in three straight seasons.

Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's precisely who they face next.

Major Week 15 Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
• Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star wide receiver scored two touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher recorded his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record.
• An overseas kicker helped his squad in a upset win in soggy weather.
• A team that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A struggling franchise saw its franchise QB return from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a similar ailment.