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Every game matters at this stage, with some massive outcomes in week 14 that may determine postseason berths by the end of the campaign.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a big blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, whereas Josh Allen all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense presented a massive problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Showdowns Live Up To the Hype

A trio of massive division clashes lived up to the hype.

Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a tough close success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer recorded his first running touchdown in almost three seasons, but it was his deep throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. These teams will meet once more on the last day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defense had to halt another late-game rally from the opposing rookie quarterback in the frigid conditions.

This result handed one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers dropped from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.

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

Projections give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.

During Mahomes' 7 full seasons as a starter, he has reached 7 conference championship games and five championship games. This means the club has competed in nearly every possible contest during his tenure.

So, the causes for the current struggles are clear and were encapsulated during the recent loss. Absences decimated an already struggling offensive line, with multiple key players out.

Despite that, the quarterback provided his squad a chance, but missed kicks and crucial dropped passes—including on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—sealed their fate.

In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the Western US?

Two powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are building strong cases for championship favorites.

One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the last title held at February's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, long possessions.

The other contender, atop the other conference, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable running game to complement an exceptional aerial attack.

A key matchup would be if the potent offence can handle the relentless pressure of the top defense—a a fascinating potential matchup.

Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end fueled rumors about a potential retirement.

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

"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," he added. If the year ends early for the team, the three-time Super Bowl winner might decide to retire.

Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for his team in a snowy victory. He passed for 3 scores and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering percentage of his team's overall touchdowns this season.

He is the only player in league history with three thousand passing yards, twenty TD passes and ten rushing touchdowns in 3 straight seasons.

Now, he puts the Bills on his shoulders again as they aim to chase down their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one offense.
• A star wide receiver caught two scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared pass rusher notched his twentieth QB sack of the season, closing in of the all-time mark.
• An overseas kicker helped his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
• A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A struggling team saw its star quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a similar injury.