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Every matchup counts at this stage, with several enormous results in week 14 that may decide postseason spots by the conclusion of the season.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers struck a major setback to the Baltimore Ravens' play-off aspirations, while the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually ended Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston defence posed a huge problem and may have finished the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Mahomes era.

Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Anticipation

A trio of critical division clashes delivered.

Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a gritty 27-22 victory in on the road. He scored his initial rushing touchdown in almost three seasons, but it was his long passes to his star wideout that proved to be the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback was out of kilter as Baltimore failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. These franchises will meet again on the last weekend of the regular season.

In another, the longest-running rivalry in the NFL saw a epic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the freezing conditions.

This result handed one team a narrow lead in their NFC North, whereas the losers fell from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.

Analysis: Where Has It Gone Wrong for the Chiefs?

Projections assign the Chiefs only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.

In Mahomes' seven complete years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and 5 championship games. This means the team has competed in almost each available game throughout his tenure.

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

Despite that, the quarterback gave his squad a chance, but failed kicks and costly drops—such as on a decisive fourth-down play—confirmed their downfall.

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

Two powerhouse teams from the western divisions are making compelling arguments for Super Bowl contention.

One team, leading their the AFC, won the last title played at February's venue. They are built on a dominant defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, long drives.

The second contender, atop the NFC, demonstrated an high-powered offence capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed ground game to complement an elite passing attack.

The question could be whether the high-flying offence can withstand the relentless pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating potential matchup.

Talking Point: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled speculation about a possible retirement.

Listening to him say, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely seemed like he was bracing for the veteran to call it a day.

"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," Mahomes continued. If the season concludes prematurely for the team, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might decide to retire.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen did it all again for his team in a snowy victory. He threw three scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a remarkable percentage of his team's overall scores this year.

Allen is the only quarterback in league annals with 3,000 pass yards, twenty touchdown throws and 10 rushing scores in three straight campaigns.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his back again as they aim to chase down their AFC East foes, the Patriots—and, they are precisely who they play next.

Key Upcoming Week Matchups:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest scoring play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific receiver scored two touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared defensive end recorded his 20th sack of the season, moving within reach of the single-season record.
• An international placekicker helped his squad in a upset victory in rainy conditions.
• A offense that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
• A struggling franchise saw its franchise QB come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the contest again with a related ailment.