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Every contest counts from here on in, with several huge conclusions in the fourteenth week that might determine postseason spots come the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but ended Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense presented a massive problem and could have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Anticipation

A trio of huge rivalry games delivered.

Veteran quarterback Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his team to a gritty close victory in Baltimore. He notched his first rushing score in almost three years, but it was his long throws to his top wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a late touchdown being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the final weekend of the season.

In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a classic encounter. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defense had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing young QB in the frigid conditions.

This outcome handed one side a slender lead in their division, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.

Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.

In his 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. That indicates the team has played almost every possible contest during his time.

Therefore, the causes for the current failure are apparent and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already questionable O-line, with several key players out.

Even then, Mahomes provided his squad a fighting chance, but missed field goals and costly drops—such as on a decisive fourth down play—confirmed their fate.

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

Two top contenders from the West Coast conferences are making compelling arguments for championship favorites.

One squad, atop their conference, won the last title played at this year's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the NFL in sacks and wins through methodical, long drives.

The second team, atop the other conference, showcased an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed running game to complement an elite aerial attack.

A key matchup could be if the potent offense could handle the smothering pass rush of the elite defensive unit—what would be a must-watch potential showdown.

Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?

Among the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked speculation about a possible retirement.

Listening to him state, "every year... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely seemed 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 following this campaign," he continued. If the year ends prematurely for the team, the three-time champion veteran might choose to retire.

Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Highlights the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his team's total touchdowns this season.

He is the first player in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, 20 TD throws and 10 running touchdowns in 3 consecutive seasons.

Now, he puts the team on his back once more as they try to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they play this coming Sunday.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
• Lions @ Los Angeles Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star receiver scored 2 scores and remains on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
• An overseas kicker played a key role for his squad in a upset victory in soggy conditions.
• A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
• A reeling team saw its star quarterback come back from injury, only to exit the game once more with a related ailment.