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Each contest matters from here on in, with several massive conclusions in week 14 that might determine postseason spots by the conclusion of the year.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defense posed a huge problem and may have concluded the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation

A trio of critical division clashes delivered.

Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his team to a tough close victory in Baltimore. He notched his initial running touchdown in nearly three years, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as his team failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—though they were left fuming by a late touchdown being overturned. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL witnessed a epic contest. Even with scoring deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to thwart another late-game comeback from the opposing rookie QB in the freezing weather.

The outcome gave one team a slender advantage in their division, while the losers dropped from the NFC's number one seed down to outside the playoff picture.

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Awry for the Chiefs?

Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% chance of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this will be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.

During Mahomes' 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship games and five championship games. This means the team has competed in nearly each available contest throughout his time.

Therefore, the causes for this year's failure are clear and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already struggling O-line, with several starters out.

Even then, the quarterback gave his team a fighting chance, but missed kicks and crucial drops—such as on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—sealed their fate.

Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?

A pair of top teams from the West Coast conferences are building compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites.

One team, atop their conference, won the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are built on a stifling defence that tops the league in sacks and wins through grinding, long possessions.

The other team, leading the NFC, showcased an explosive offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground attack to pair with an exceptional passing game.

The question would be whether the potent offence could solve the smothering pressure of the top defense—a a must-watch playoff matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?

Among the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate sparked speculation about a possible retirement.

Listening to him say, "each season... I try to cherish since you never know" certainly seemed like he was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do following this season," he continued. If the year ends early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner might choose to walk away.

Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights Week 15

Josh Allen put on a show once more for his team in a wintry victory. He passed for 3 scores and ran for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's overall touchdowns this season.

He is the first quarterback in NFL annals with three thousand passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in 3 straight campaigns.

Next, he puts the team on his back again as they aim to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are exactly who they face this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

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

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific receiver caught two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time record.
• An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a upset win in rainy conditions.
• A offense that was shutout one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
• A reeling franchise watched its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to leave the game again with a similar injury.