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Each contest matters at this stage, with several enormous outcomes in the fourteenth week that could settle play-off berths come the end of the season.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback struck a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence posed a huge challenge and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Exceed the Anticipation

A trio of massive rivalry games lived up to the hype.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his initial rushing score in almost three years, however it was his deep throws to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as his team missed crucial opportunities—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final weekend of the season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a classic encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an worn-out defense had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young quarterback in the frigid conditions.

The outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their NFC North, while the losers plummeted from the NFC's number one seed all the way to seventh.

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

Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this will be the initial missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.

In Mahomes' seven complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship games and five championship games. That means the club has played almost each possible contest throughout his time.

Therefore, the reasons for this year's struggles are apparent and were highlighted during the recent loss. Absences decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several starters missing.

Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a chance, however missed kicks and costly drops—such as on a key fourth down play—sealed their fate.

In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the Western US?

Two top contenders from the West Coast divisions are making strong cases for championship contention.

One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the last Super Bowl played at this year's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, time-consuming possessions.

The second team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running attack to pair with an elite passing attack.

The question would be if the high-flying offence could withstand the smothering pressure of the top defense—what would be a must-watch potential matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end fueled speculation about a potential departure.

Hearing Mahomes say, "every year... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the choice to do what he chooses to do after this season," Mahomes added. If the season ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time champion veteran might choose to walk away.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15

The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for Buffalo in a snowy victory. He threw 3 touchdowns and ran for another, accounting for a staggering percentage of his offense's total scores this year.

Allen is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and 10 running touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.

Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his shoulders again as they aim to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

• Bills @ Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star receiver caught 2 scores and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared pass rusher notched his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time mark.
• An overseas kicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in rainy weather.
• A offense that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A reeling franchise saw its franchise QB return from an elbow issue, only to leave the game again with a related injury.