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Every game matters down the stretch, with some enormous results in week 14 that may decide postseason berths by the end of the campaign.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a big setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason aspirations, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defense presented a significant challenge and could have concluded the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.

Divisional Analysis: Division Showdowns Exceed the Expectations

Three huge divisional battles did not disappoint.

Veteran quarterback Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 success in Baltimore. He notched his initial rushing touchdown in nearly three years, but it was his deep throws to his star wideout that made the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback was off rhythm as his team missed key chances—although they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. The two teams will meet once more on the final weekend of the regular season.

In another, the oldest rivalry in the NFL saw a epic contest. Despite scoring deep passes, an exhausted defensive unit had to stop another fourth-quarter comeback from the visiting rookie QB in the frigid weather.

This result gave one team a slender advantage in their division, whereas the losers fell from the conference's number one seed down to seventh.

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Statistical models give the Kansas City only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. Realistically, this will be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first for the franchise in a decade.

During Mahomes' 7 complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That means the team has competed in almost every possible contest during his time.

So, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries decimated an already dodgy O-line, with several starters out.

Despite that, Mahomes provided his squad a fighting chance, however failed field goals and crucial dropped passes—including on a key fourth-down play—sealed their fate.

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

A pair of powerhouse contenders from the West Coast conferences are making compelling cases for championship contention.

One squad, leading their conference, claimed the most recent title played at February's venue. They are built on a stifling defense that tops the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.

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

The question could be whether the potent offence can withstand the smothering pass rush of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch potential showdown.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' defeat, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime teammate sparked speculation about a possible departure.

Listening to Mahomes state, "each year... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like he was bracing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"He will have the option to do what he wants to do after this season," he added. If the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the 3x champion veteran could choose to retire.

Preview: Bills vs. New England Headlines Week 15

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a snowy victory. He threw three scores and rushed for one more, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's overall touchdowns this year.

He is the only quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, twenty TD throws and 10 rushing touchdowns in three straight campaigns.

Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his back once more as they try to catch their division rivals, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they face this coming Sunday.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

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

Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A star 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 campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
• An international placekicker helped his squad in a surprise win in rainy conditions.
• A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a shutout of its own the following week.
• A reeling team saw its franchise QB return from injury, only to leave the contest again with a related injury.