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Each matchup counts at this stage, with several enormous outcomes in week 14 that may settle postseason positions by the end of the season.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers landed a major setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, while Josh Allen virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a huge problem and could have finished the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Anticipation

A trio of massive divisional battles lived up to the hype.

Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running touchdown in nearly three seasons, but it was his long passes to his top receiver that proved to be the difference.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as his team missed crucial opportunities—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the season.

In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a thrilling contest. Even with touchdown bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the freezing weather.

This outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their division, whereas the losers dropped from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh.

In-Depth Look: What Has Gone Awry for the Chiefs?

Statistical models give the Kansas City only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.

During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has advanced to seven AFC Championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. That means the team has competed in almost every possible game during his tenure.

Therefore, the reasons for the current struggles are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy O-line, with multiple key players out.

Even then, Mahomes provided his team a fighting chance, however failed kicks and critical drops—such as on a decisive fourth down play—confirmed their fate.

Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?

Two top teams from the West Coast divisions are building strong cases for Super Bowl favorites.

One team, leading their the AFC, won the last title played at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defense that leads the NFL in sacks and wins through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The other team, leading the NFC, demonstrated an high-powered offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running attack to pair with an elite aerial game.

The question could be if the potent offense could handle the relentless pass rush of the top defense—a a fascinating playoff showdown.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end sparked speculation about a potential retirement.

Hearing him state, "each year... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely sounded like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do what he chooses to do following this season," Mahomes added. Should the season ends prematurely for the team, the 3x champion winner could decide to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for his team in a wintry win. Allen passed for 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's overall touchdowns this season.

Allen is the first player in NFL history with three thousand passing yards, 20 touchdown throws and ten rushing scores in 3 straight campaigns.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—and, that's exactly who they play next.

Major Upcoming Week Games:

• Buffalo Bills @ Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Chargers @ Chiefs

Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the year—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A prolific receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time record.
• An overseas placekicker helped his team in a upset victory in rainy conditions.
• A team that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
• A struggling team saw its star QB return from an elbow issue, only to exit the game again with a similar injury.