🔗 Share this article Rodgers Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive, Yet Could This Be The Finish for the Kansas City Chiefs? Highlights from National Football League Week 14 Every game counts from here on in, with some enormous outcomes in week 14 that might decide play-off positions come the conclusion of the campaign. A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually ended Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a massive challenge and may have finished the Chiefs' season earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure. Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation A trio of massive division clashes lived up to the hype. Veteran quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer scored his initial running touchdown in nearly three seasons, but it was his long throws to his top receiver that proved to be the deciding factor. The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key chances—although they were angry by a late score being chalked off. The two teams will meet again on the final weekend of the season. In another, the oldest feud in the league witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an worn-out defense had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting young quarterback in the frigid weather. This outcome handed one team a slender lead in their NFC North, while the losers fell from the NFC's top spot all the way to outside the playoff picture. In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs? Projections give the Chiefs only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a ten years. During Mahomes' seven full years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship contests and five Super Bowls. That means the team has competed in nearly each possible contest during his time. So, the causes for this year's struggles are evident and were encapsulated during the recent defeat. Absences decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players out. Despite that, Mahomes provided his squad a fighting chance, however missed kicks and critical drops—including on a decisive fourth-down play—sealed their fate. In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West? Two powerhouse contenders from the West Coast conferences are building compelling arguments for championship favorites. One squad, leading their conference, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through methodical, long drives. The second team, leading the NFC, showcased an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They feature a formidable running game to pair with an exceptional passing game. The question would be if the high-flying offense could handle the relentless pressure of the top defensive unit—what would be a fascinating potential showdown. Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement? Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate fueled rumors about a potential departure. Listening to him say, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly sounded like the QB was preparing for the veteran to call it a day. "He will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do following this season," he added. If the year concludes early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner could choose to retire. Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. Allen passed for three scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's overall scores this year. Allen is the only quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand passing yards, twenty TD passes and ten running scores in 3 consecutive campaigns. Next, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play next. Key Upcoming Week Matchups: Bills @ Patriots Lions @ Rams Green Bay Packers @ Broncos Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs This Week's Stats, Records & Notes A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team. A prolific receiver caught two touchdowns and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving. A feared defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time record. An overseas placekicker helped his team in a surprise victory in rainy conditions. A team that was shutout 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 leave the contest once more with a related ailment.