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Every matchup matters down the stretch, with a number of massive results in the fourteenth week that may decide postseason spots come the end of the year.

A 42-year veteran quarterback dealt a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas Josh Allen virtually terminated Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defense posed a huge challenge and could have finished the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes era.

Divisional Analysis: Division Deciders Exceed the Anticipation

Three critical rivalry games delivered.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a tough 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer recorded his initial rushing touchdown in nearly three years, but it was his deep passes to his top receiver that proved to be the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson was off rhythm as Baltimore failed to capitalize on key opportunities—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last weekend of the season.

In another, the oldest feud in the NFL saw a epic contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing rookie QB in the frigid weather.

This result gave one team a narrow advantage in their division, while the losers plummeted from the NFC's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.

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

Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

During his 7 complete years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship contests and five Super Bowls. This means the club has played almost each possible contest during his tenure.

So, the causes for the current struggles are evident and were encapsulated during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already struggling offensive line, with several key players out.

Even then, Mahomes provided his squad a chance, however missed kicks and costly dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth down attempt—confirmed their downfall.

In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?

Two top contenders from the West Coast conferences are building compelling cases for championship contention.

One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the last Super Bowl played at February's stadium. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and wins through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The second contender, atop the other conference, showcased an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable ground attack to complement an exceptional aerial game.

The question could be if the potent offense can withstand the smothering pass rush of the top defense—what would be a fascinating playoff showdown.

Talking Point: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate fueled talk about a potential retirement.

Hearing him say, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was bracing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do whatever he wants to do after this season," he added. Should the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time Super Bowl veteran might choose to retire.

Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for his team in a wintry victory. He threw three touchdowns and rushed for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his team's overall scores this year.

Allen is the only quarterback in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD throws and 10 running scores in three consecutive campaigns.

Now, he tries to carry the Bills on his back again as they try to catch their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots—and, they are exactly who they play this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

• Bills @ Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star receiver scored 2 touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
• An international kicker helped his team in a upset win in rainy weather.
• A offense that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A struggling team watched its franchise QB come back from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a related injury.