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Every contest is crucial at this stage, with several massive conclusions in week 14 that may settle play-off positions come the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback struck a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas Josh Allen virtually ended the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a massive challenge and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Expectations

Three critical divisional battles did not disappoint.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a gritty close victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial running score in almost three seasons, however it was his long passes to his top receiver that made the difference.

Lamar Jackson was out of kilter as Baltimore missed key chances—although they were angry by a late score being chalked off. These franchises will meet again on the final day of the season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running feud in the league witnessed a classic encounter. Despite touchdown bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing rookie QB in the frigid conditions.

The outcome gave one team a slender lead in their division, while the defeated team fell from the conference's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.

In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Projections give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.

During his 7 full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 conference championship contests and five championship games. That means the club has competed in nearly each possible game during his time.

So, the reasons for this year's failure are clear and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Injuries ravaged an already struggling O-line, with several starters missing.

Even then, the quarterback gave his squad a fighting chance, however missed field goals and costly drops—including on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

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

A pair of top teams from the western divisions are building compelling cases for championship contention.

One squad, atop their the AFC, claimed the last Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are built on a dominant defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The second team, atop the other conference, showcased an explosive offense capable of scoring from anywhere. They feature a two-headed ground attack to complement an exceptional passing attack.

The question could be if the high-flying offense can handle the smothering pressure of the elite defense—a a fascinating potential showdown.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?

Amid the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled rumors about a possible retirement.

Listening to him say, "every year... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly seemed like he was preparing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

"He will have the choice to do what he wants to do following this campaign," he added. If the year concludes early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner could choose to retire.

Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Highlights Week 15

The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for his team in a snowy victory. He threw three touchdowns and rushed for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's overall scores this year.

Allen is the only player in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, 20 TD throws and 10 running scores in three straight campaigns.

Now, he puts the team on his back again as they aim to chase down their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play next.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

• Buffalo 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 touchdown—the longest scoring play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
• A star receiver caught 2 touchdowns and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the all-time mark.
• An overseas kicker helped his squad in a surprise win in rainy weather.
• A team that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A struggling team saw its star quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game again with a similar ailment.