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Each contest counts from here on in, with a number of huge results in week 14 that might determine play-off spots come the conclusion of the season.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback dealt a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback all-but terminated Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a huge challenge and may have finished the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Divisional Deciders Exceed the Hype

A trio of critical divisional battles lived up to the hype.

Seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a tough close win in Baltimore. He recorded his first rushing score in almost three seasons, however it was his long throws to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial chances—although they were angry by a late score being overturned. The two franchises will meet again on the final day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the NFL witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defense had to halt another late-game rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the freezing conditions.

The outcome gave one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, while the defeated team fell from the NFC's number one seed all the way to outside the playoff picture.

Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections give 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 such for the franchise in a decade.

In Mahomes' seven complete seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and five Super Bowls. This means the club has played almost each possible contest during his time.

So, the reasons for the current failure are apparent and were encapsulated during the recent defeat. Injuries decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with several key players out.

Even then, Mahomes gave his team a fighting chance, but missed kicks and costly dropped passes—such as on a decisive fourth down play—sealed their fate.

In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the West?

A pair of powerhouse contenders from the western divisions are building strong arguments for Super Bowl favorites.

One team, atop their the AFC, won the last Super Bowl played at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, long possessions.

The second contender, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a formidable running attack to pair with an exceptional aerial game.

A key matchup would be whether the potent offence could solve the smothering pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a must-watch potential matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end sparked speculation about a possible retirement.

Listening to Mahomes say, "each year... I try to appreciate since you never know" certainly seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"He will have the option to do what he wants to do following this season," Mahomes continued. Should the year concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x Super Bowl winner could choose to retire.

Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen did it all again for Buffalo in a wintry win. He passed for 3 scores and rushed for another, responsible for a staggering percentage of his team's total scores this season.

He is the first quarterback in league annals with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD passes and ten rushing scores in 3 consecutive seasons.

Now, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their division foes, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they face this coming Sunday.

Key Upcoming Week Matchups:

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

Week 14 Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff runback for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A prolific receiver caught two touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A dominant defensive end recorded his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
• An overseas kicker helped his team in a surprise victory in rainy weather.
• A team that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A struggling team saw its franchise quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to leave the game once more with a related injury.