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Each game matters from here on in, with a number of huge outcomes in the fourteenth week that may decide postseason berths come the conclusion of the campaign.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a big blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a significant problem and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Live Up To the Anticipation

A trio of massive rivalry games did not disappoint.

Veteran quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his team to a gritty close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his first rushing score in almost three seasons, but it was his deep throws to his star receiver that proved to be the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback was out of sync as Baltimore missed crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two franchises are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the season.

Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a classic contest. Even with touchdown deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing weather.

This outcome handed one side a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team fell from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh.

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

Statistical models assign the Chiefs only a fifteen percent probability of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed playoffs for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.

In Mahomes' 7 full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and 5 championship games. This indicates the team has played nearly every possible contest during his time.

So, the reasons for this year's struggles are evident and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Absences ravaged an already struggling O-line, with multiple starters missing.

Even then, the quarterback gave his squad a fighting chance, however failed kicks and critical dropped passes—such as on a pivotal fourth down play—confirmed their fate.

Spotlight: Could the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?

Two top teams from the western conferences are making compelling arguments for Super Bowl favorites.

One team, atop their conference, won the most recent title held at this year's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.

The other team, leading the other conference, demonstrated an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a two-headed ground attack to pair with an elite passing game.

The question would be if the high-flying offence could handle the smothering pass rush of the elite defense—what would be a must-watch playoff matchup.

Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Retirement?

Amid the aftermath from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end sparked speculation about a potential departure.

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

"The tight end will have the option to do what he wants to do following this season," he added. If the season ends early for the Chiefs, the 3x champion winner might choose to walk away.

Looking Ahead: Bills vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for Buffalo in a wintry victory. Allen threw 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his offense's total touchdowns this year.

He is the first quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD throws and ten rushing scores in 3 straight campaigns.

Next, he puts the team on his back again as they aim to catch their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.

Major Week 15 Matchups:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one offense.
• A star wide receiver scored two scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
• A feared defensive end recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time record.
• An overseas kicker played a key role for his team in a surprise victory in soggy weather.
• A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A struggling team watched its franchise quarterback return from injury, only to exit the game once more with a related ailment.