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Each contest matters from here on in, with several enormous outcomes in week 14 that could determine postseason spots come the end of the year.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas Josh Allen virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a massive challenge and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign sooner than ever in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Hype

A trio of massive rivalry games did not disappoint.

Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, guided his squad to a hard-fought close victory in on the road. He recorded his first running score in nearly three seasons, but it was his long throws to his star wideout that made the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as his team failed to capitalize on key chances—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being overturned. These franchises will meet once more on the last day of the regular season.

In another, the oldest feud in the NFL witnessed a thrilling contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the frigid weather.

The outcome handed one side a narrow lead in their NFC North, whereas the losers fell from the conference's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.

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

Projections assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

During Mahomes' seven full years as a starter, he has advanced to seven conference championship games and five Super Bowls. This indicates the club has played nearly every available contest throughout his tenure.

So, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were highlighted during the recent loss. Injuries ravaged an already questionable O-line, with multiple key players missing.

Despite that, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, however missed field goals and costly dropped passes—such as on a key fourth-down play—confirmed their fate.

In Focus: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?

Two powerhouse contenders from the West Coast divisions are building strong arguments for championship contention.

One team, atop their conference, claimed the last Super Bowl played at February's venue. They are built on a stifling defence that tops the NFL in sacks and victories through grinding, long possessions.

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

A key matchup could be whether the potent offence can withstand the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—what would be a fascinating potential matchup.

Talking Point: Travis Kelce Pondering Calling It Quits?

Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate sparked rumors about a potential departure.

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

"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," he added. If the year ends prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion winner could decide to retire.

Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering percentage of his offense's total scores this year.

He is the only player in NFL annals with three thousand passing yards, twenty touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in three consecutive campaigns.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they aim to chase down their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face next.

Key Upcoming Week Matchups:

• Bills @ New England Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Rams
• Green Bay Packers @ Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
• A prolific receiver scored two touchdowns and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
• A feared defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
• An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise win in soggy weather.
• A team that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
• A reeling team watched its franchise QB return from injury, only to exit the contest again with a related injury.