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Every game is crucial from here on in, with a number of huge conclusions in the fourteenth week that could determine postseason spots come the end of the campaign.

A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a significant blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a massive problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Hype

Three massive rivalry games lived up to the hype.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his team to a hard-fought close success in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his first rushing touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that made the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as Baltimore missed key chances—although they were frustrated by a late score being nullified. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on the final day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running feud in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to thwart another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing weather.

This outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their NFC North, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's top spot down to seventh.

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

Projections give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this will be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.

In his 7 complete years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship contests and five Super Bowls. That means the club has competed in almost each possible game during his tenure.

Therefore, the reasons for the current struggles are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Injuries decimated an already struggling offensive line, with several key players missing.

Even then, the quarterback provided his team a chance, but missed kicks and crucial drops—including on a key fourth down play—confirmed their downfall.

Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?

A pair of top teams from the western conferences are making strong cases for championship favorites.

One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the last title held at February's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through methodical, long drives.

The second team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable running game to complement an elite passing attack.

The question could be if the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pressure of the elite defense—what would be a fascinating playoff showdown.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked rumors about a potential departure.

Hearing Mahomes state, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"The tight end will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do after this season," he added. If the season concludes early for the team, the three-time champion veteran could choose to retire.

Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen passed for three touchdowns and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering percentage of his offense's overall touchdowns this year.

He is the only player in league history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 straight seasons.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they aim to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—and, that's exactly who they play this coming Sunday.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

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

Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the season—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star wide receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset victory in soggy weather.
• A offense that was shutout one game responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A reeling franchise watched its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a related injury.