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Each contest is crucial down the stretch, with a number of massive results in week 14 that may settle play-off positions by the end of the campaign.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a big blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence presented a huge problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Exceed the Anticipation

A trio of massive division clashes did not disappoint.

Veteran quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a tough close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial rushing score in nearly three years, however it was his deep throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as Baltimore missed key chances—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being overturned. These teams are scheduled to face off once more on the last day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL witnessed a classic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another late-game rally from the visiting young QB in the freezing conditions.

The outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their division, whereas the defeated team fell from the NFC's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.

In-Depth Look: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections give the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

In Mahomes' seven full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls. This means the team has competed in nearly every possible contest throughout his time.

Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are clear and were summed up during the recent loss. Absences decimated an already dodgy O-line, with multiple key players missing.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a chance, but failed kicks and crucial dropped passes—including on a decisive fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?

Two top contenders from the western conferences are making strong cases for championship favorites.

One squad, leading their conference, won the last title held at this year's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defence that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, long possessions.

The other team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed ground attack to complement an exceptional passing game.

A key matchup would be whether the potent offense can handle the relentless pass rush of the top defense—what would be a fascinating playoff showdown.

Talking Point: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?

Amid the aftermath from the Kansas City's defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his star tight end fueled talk about a possible departure.

Listening to him state, "every year... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"The tight end will have the choice to do what he wants to do after this campaign," he added. Should the year ends prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl winner could decide to walk away.

Preview: Bills vs. New England Headlines Week 15

The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. Allen threw three scores and rushed for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's total touchdowns this year.

He is the only player in league annals with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and 10 running touchdowns in 3 consecutive seasons.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they try to catch their division foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face next.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

• Bills @ New England Patriots
• Lions @ Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
• Chargers @ Kansas City 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 offense.
• A prolific wide receiver scored 2 scores and is still tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant pass rusher recorded his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the all-time mark.
• An overseas placekicker helped his team in a surprise win in soggy conditions.
• A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
• A reeling team watched its star quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a related ailment.