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Each contest counts from here on in, with several enormous results in the fourteenth week that may determine play-off spots by the end of the season.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a huge challenge and could have finished the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Expectations

Three huge divisional battles did not disappoint.

Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his team to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in on the road. He notched his initial rushing score in almost three years, but it was his deep passes to his top receiver that made the difference.

Lamar Jackson was out of kilter as Baltimore missed crucial chances—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being overturned. These teams will meet again on the last day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the NFL witnessed a thrilling encounter. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the freezing weather.

This result handed one side a narrow advantage in their division, while the losers plummeted from the NFC's number one seed all the way to seventh.

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.

In Mahomes' seven full seasons as a starter, he has reached seven conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the team has played nearly each available game throughout his time.

Therefore, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Injuries decimated an already questionable O-line, with several starters missing.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, however failed kicks and crucial dropped passes—such as on a key fourth-down attempt—sealed their fate.

Spotlight: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?

A pair of top contenders from the western divisions are building strong cases for championship favorites.

One squad, atop their the AFC, won the last Super Bowl held at February's stadium. They are built on a stifling defence that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through grinding, time-consuming drives.

The other contender, atop the NFC, showcased an high-powered offence capable of scoring from anywhere. They feature a two-headed ground attack to complement an exceptional passing attack.

A key matchup could be whether the potent offense can solve the smothering pass rush of the top defense—what would be a fascinating playoff matchup.

Talking Point: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?

Among the fallout from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked rumors about a possible departure.

Hearing Mahomes say, "every season... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"He will have the choice to do what he wants to do following this season," Mahomes added. Should the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time champion winner could decide to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen put on a show again for Buffalo in a wintry win. He threw 3 scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's total touchdowns this season.

He is the only quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD throws and ten rushing scores in 3 straight campaigns.

Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his back again as they try to chase down their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play next.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

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

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star receiver caught two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise win in soggy weather.
• A offense that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A struggling team watched its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game again with a similar injury.