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Every matchup counts down the stretch, with some massive conclusions in the fourteenth week that may settle postseason spots come the end of the campaign.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers landed a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, while Josh Allen virtually terminated Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston Texans defence posed a significant challenge and could have ended the Chiefs' season sooner than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Exceed the Expectations

Three massive divisional battles delivered.

Veteran quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, led his team to a gritty 27-22 win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his initial rushing score in nearly three seasons, but it was his deep passes to his top receiver that made the difference.

Lamar Jackson was out of sync as his team missed key opportunities—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter score being nullified. These franchises will meet again on the last weekend of the regular season.

In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL witnessed a classic encounter. Even with scoring deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another late-game rally from the visiting rookie QB in the freezing conditions.

The result gave one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, while the defeated team plummeted from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.

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

Statistical models give the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the first missed post-season for franchise QB Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.

In his seven full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 conference championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the club has competed in nearly every available game throughout his time.

Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already dodgy offensive line, with multiple key players missing.

Even then, the quarterback provided his squad a fighting chance, however missed field goals and critical dropped passes—including on a decisive fourth-down play—confirmed their fate.

Spotlight: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the Western US?

Two powerhouse contenders from the West Coast divisions are building strong cases for championship favorites.

One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at February's stadium. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and wins through grinding, long drives.

The other contender, leading the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offence capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a formidable ground game to complement an elite passing game.

A key matchup could be if the potent offence can handle the relentless pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating playoff matchup.

Discussion: Travis Kelce Considering Calling It Quits?

Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his star teammate sparked rumors about a potential retirement.

Listening to him state, "each season... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly sounded like the QB was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do whatever he wants to do following this season," he added. If the year ends early for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran could decide to walk away.

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

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for his team in a wintry victory. Allen passed for three scores and rushed for another, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his team's overall scores this year.

He is the first quarterback in league annals with 3,000 passing yards, 20 TD throws and ten running touchdowns in 3 straight seasons.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his back once more as they aim to chase down their division rivals, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they face next.

Key Week 15 Matchups:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest scoring play of the year—kick-started a scoring blitz for one team.
• A star receiver caught 2 touchdowns and remains tracking for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant pass rusher notched his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, closing in of the single-season mark.
• An overseas placekicker helped his squad in a upset victory in soggy weather.
• A team that was shutout one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A reeling team watched its franchise QB return from injury, only to leave the contest again with a related injury.