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Every matchup matters down the stretch, with a number of enormous outcomes in week 14 that may settle postseason positions come the end of the year.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers landed a major blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason aspirations, whereas Josh Allen all-but terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. At the same time, the Houston defence presented a significant challenge and could have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Live Up To the Hype

A trio of critical rivalry games lived up to the hype.

Seasoned quarterback Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a tough close win in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer scored his initial rushing score in almost three years, but it was his deep passes to his top receiver that proved to be the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as his team missed key opportunities—although they were left fuming by a fourth-quarter touchdown being nullified. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the final day of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the oldest feud in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defense had to stop another late-game comeback from the opposing rookie quarterback in the freezing conditions.

This result gave one side a narrow lead in their division, whereas the defeated team plummeted from the NFC's number one seed down to seventh.

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

Statistical models give the Chiefs only a 15% chance of making the play-offs. In all likelihood, this could be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.

During his seven complete seasons as a starting quarterback, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship contests and 5 championship games. That indicates the team has played almost each available game throughout his tenure.

Therefore, the causes for the current struggles are apparent and were summed up during Sunday's defeat. Injuries ravaged an already questionable O-line, with several key players out.

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

Spotlight: Is the Super Bowl Be Destined for the Western US?

Two powerhouse contenders from the western conferences are making strong arguments for championship contention.

One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the last title played at February's venue. They are constructed on a dominant defence that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming drives.

The second team, atop the NFC, showcased an explosive offense capable of scoring from anywhere. They boast a formidable ground attack to complement an exceptional passing game.

A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offence can solve the smothering pressure of the top defensive unit—a a must-watch potential matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Pondering Calling It Quits?

Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked rumors about a possible departure.

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

"He will have the choice to do what he wants to do following this season," Mahomes continued. If the year concludes early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl winner might decide to walk away.

Preview: Bills vs. New England Headlines Week 15

The Bills' quarterback put on a show once more for his team in a wintry win. Allen threw 3 scores and ran for another, accounting for a staggering portion of his team's total scores this year.

Allen is the first quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD throws and ten running scores in three straight campaigns.

Next, he tries to carry the Bills on his shoulders once more as they aim to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—and, that's exactly who they face this coming Sunday.

Key Week 15 Games:

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

Week 14 Stats, Records & Notes

• A kick-off runback for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the year—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A star receiver scored two touchdowns and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard season.
• A feared defensive end notched his 20th QB sack of the season, closing in of the all-time record.
• An international placekicker helped his squad in a upset victory in rainy conditions.
• A offense that was shutout one week bounced back with a shutout of its own the next.
• A struggling team saw its star QB come back from injury, only to leave the contest once more with a similar injury.