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Each matchup matters from here on in, with a number of massive conclusions in week 14 that might decide postseason berths come the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a major setback to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, while Josh Allen all-but finished Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a huge challenge and may have ended the Chiefs' season sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.

Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation

Three critical division clashes did not disappoint.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his squad to a tough close win in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial running touchdown in almost three years, however it was his deep throws to his star wideout that made the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial chances—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. These teams are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running feud in the league saw a classic contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an worn-out defense had to halt another late-game comeback from the visiting rookie quarterback in the freezing weather.

The outcome handed one team a slender lead in their NFC North, while the losers fell from the conference's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.

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

Projections give the Chiefs only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a ten years.

In Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starter, he has reached seven AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls. That indicates the team has played nearly every available contest during his tenure.

Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are evident and were summed up during the recent defeat. Absences ravaged an already questionable offensive line, with several key players missing.

Despite that, Mahomes provided his team a chance, however failed kicks and critical dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth down play—confirmed their fate.

In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?

A pair of powerhouse contenders from the West Coast divisions are building strong cases for championship favorites.

One squad, leading their conference, claimed the last Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.

The other team, atop the NFC, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable ground game to pair with an exceptional passing attack.

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

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled rumors about a possible retirement.

Hearing Mahomes state, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like he was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.

"He will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do following this campaign," Mahomes added. If the season ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner could choose to walk away.

Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a snowy win. He threw 3 scores and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his offense's total scores this season.

He is the first player in league annals with three thousand passing yards, twenty touchdown throws and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 consecutive campaigns.

Now, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they try to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—and, they are exactly who they play next.

Key Week 15 Games:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A prolific wide receiver caught 2 scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant pass rusher notched his 20th QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
• An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset victory in rainy weather.
• A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A reeling team saw its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the contest again with a similar injury.