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Every game counts at this stage, with several huge outcomes in the fourteenth week that might decide postseason positions by the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers dealt a big setback to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defense posed a massive problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Hype

A trio of critical rivalry games lived up to the hype.

Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, guided his team to a gritty close win in on the road. He recorded his first rushing score in almost three years, but it was his deep throws to his top receiver that made the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as his team missed key opportunities—although they were angry by a late touchdown being nullified. The two teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final day of the season.

In another, the longest-running feud in the NFL saw a epic contest. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defense had to halt another late-game comeback from the opposing rookie quarterback in the freezing conditions.

The outcome gave one team a narrow lead in their division, whereas the defeated team plummeted from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.

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

Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. Realistically, this will be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.

In his 7 full years as a starter, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and five Super Bowls. This indicates the team has competed in nearly every available contest during his time.

Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are apparent and were highlighted during Sunday's loss. Absences decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players out.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a chance, but failed field goals and costly dropped passes—such as on a key fourth down attempt—confirmed their fate.

Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?

A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are making strong arguments for championship favorites.

One team, atop their conference, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.

The second contender, leading the other conference, showcased an explosive offence capable of scoring from any situation. They boast a two-headed running attack to pair with an exceptional passing game.

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

Discussion: Travis Kelce Pondering Retirement?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from the quarterback about his longtime tight end sparked talk about a possible retirement.

Listening to Mahomes say, "every year... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly sounded like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this season," he added. Should the season concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner might decide to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a wintry victory. Allen threw three touchdowns and rushed for one more, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his offense's overall scores this season.

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

Now, he puts the Bills on his back again as they aim to chase down their division foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they play this coming Sunday.

Major Week 15 Matchups:

• Bills @ Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Rams
• Packers @ Denver Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Chiefs

Week 14 Statistical Highlights

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
• A star receiver caught two scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end notched his 20th sack of the season, closing in of the single-season record.
• An overseas kicker played a key role for his team in a upset victory in soggy weather.
• A offense that was held scoreless one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A reeling franchise watched its franchise quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to leave the game once more with a similar ailment.