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Every contest matters at this stage, with some enormous outcomes in week 14 that might determine postseason berths by the end of the season.

A 42-year veteran quarterback landed a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while Josh Allen all-but finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defence presented a significant challenge and may have ended the Chiefs' campaign sooner than ever in the Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Exceed the Hype

A trio of massive division clashes lived up to the hype.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a hard-fought 27-22 success in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his initial rushing score in nearly three seasons, however it was his long passes to his star wideout that made the difference.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as his team failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—although they were angry by a late score being nullified. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on the last weekend of the season.

Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the league saw a epic contest. Despite touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defense had to stop another late-game rally from the opposing rookie QB in the frigid weather.

The result handed one team a narrow lead in their division, whereas the defeated team plummeted from the NFC's top spot all the way to outside the playoff picture.

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

Projections give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed playoffs for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.

During his seven full seasons as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. This means the team has competed in almost each possible game throughout his tenure.

Therefore, the causes for the current failure are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Absences ravaged an already questionable O-line, with multiple key players missing.

Even then, Mahomes provided his squad a chance, but failed kicks and costly drops—including on a pivotal fourth down attempt—sealed their fate.

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

A pair of powerhouse teams from the western conferences are making compelling arguments for championship favorites.

One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the last title held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defence that tops the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.

The other team, atop the NFC, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a formidable ground attack to pair with an exceptional passing game.

A key matchup would be whether the high-flying offence could withstand the relentless pressure of the top defense—a a fascinating potential matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?

Among the fallout from the Chiefs' loss, comments from Patrick Mahomes about his star teammate sparked rumors about a potential retirement.

Hearing Mahomes state, "each season... I try to cherish because you never know" definitely seemed like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to hang up his cleats.

"The tight end will have the option to do what he chooses to do following this campaign," he continued. Should the year ends early for the Chiefs, the three-time champion veteran could decide to walk away.

Preview: Bills vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. Allen threw 3 touchdowns and ran for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his team's overall touchdowns this year.

He is the first quarterback in league annals with three thousand passing yards, twenty TD passes and ten running scores in 3 straight seasons.

Next, he puts the team on his back once more as they aim to chase down their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play next.

Major Week 15 Matchups:

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

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one offense.
• A star receiver scored two scores and remains tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared defensive end recorded his 20th sack of the campaign, closing in of the all-time record.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a surprise victory in rainy conditions.
• A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A reeling team saw its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to leave the game again with a related ailment.