🔗 Share this article Aaron Rodgers Sustains Postseason Aspirations Breathing, Yet Is It The Conclusion for the Chiefs? Highlights from NFL the Fourteenth Week Every contest counts down the stretch, with several enormous conclusions in week 14 that might decide postseason berths come the conclusion of the year. A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defense posed a massive challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era. Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Hype A trio of critical division clashes delivered. Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his squad to a gritty 27-22 success in Baltimore. He notched his initial rushing touchdown in almost three seasons, but it was his long throws to his top receiver that proved to be the difference. The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as Baltimore missed key chances—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two teams will meet again on the last day of the season. In another, the longest-running rivalry in the league witnessed a thrilling encounter. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to halt another late-game comeback from the visiting young QB in the frigid weather. This outcome gave one side a slender advantage in their division, while the defeated team dropped 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? Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a ten years. In Mahomes' seven complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls. This means the team has played nearly every possible game during his time. So, the reasons for this year's struggles are apparent and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Injuries ravaged an already struggling O-line, with several starters out. Despite that, Mahomes provided his squad a chance, however failed kicks and costly dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth-down attempt—confirmed their downfall. In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West? A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast divisions are making compelling cases for championship contention. One squad, leading their conference, won the most recent title played at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defense that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming possessions. The second team, atop the other conference, showcased an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed ground game to pair with an exceptional passing game. The question could be if the high-flying offense could solve the relentless pressure of the top defensive unit—what would be a fascinating potential matchup. Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits? Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end sparked talk about a possible departure. Listening to Mahomes say, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly sounded like the QB was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats. "The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do after this season," Mahomes continued. Should the year concludes early for the Chiefs, the three-time champion winner might decide to retire. Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate Josh Allen did it all once more for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's total scores this year. Allen is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten running touchdowns in 3 consecutive seasons. Next, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they try to catch their division foes, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next. Key Upcoming Week Games: Bills @ New England Patriots Detroit Lions @ Rams Packers @ Broncos Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team. A star receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season. A feared pass rusher notched his 20th QB sack of the season, closing in of the single-season mark. An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise victory in rainy conditions. A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week. A reeling team saw its franchise QB return from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a similar injury.