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Every game counts from here on in, with some enormous conclusions in the fourteenth week that might determine postseason berths by the end of the season.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a major blow to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually finished Joe Burrow's chances. At the same time, the Houston defense posed a significant challenge and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Expectations

A trio of huge division clashes did not disappoint.

Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, playing with a injured wrist, steered his team to a tough 27-22 victory in on the road. He notched his initial rushing score in nearly three seasons, but it was his deep throws to his star receiver that made the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of kilter as Baltimore missed key opportunities—although they were frustrated by a late touchdown being chalked off. The two franchises will meet once more on the final day of the season.

Elsewhere, the oldest rivalry in the league saw a epic encounter. Even with touchdown deep passes, an worn-out defensive unit had to halt another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young QB in the freezing weather.

The outcome gave one side a slender lead in their division, whereas the defeated team fell from the conference's top spot down to outside the playoff picture.

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

Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the franchise in a decade.

During Mahomes' seven full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven AFC Championship games and 5 Super Bowls. That means the club has competed in almost every available game during his tenure.

So, the causes for the current struggles are evident and were summed up during Sunday's loss. Injuries decimated an already dodgy O-line, with multiple starters out.

Even then, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, but failed kicks and crucial drops—including on a pivotal fourth-down attempt—confirmed their fate.

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

A pair of powerhouse teams from the western divisions are making strong arguments for championship favorites.

One squad, leading their the AFC, claimed the last title held at February's stadium. They are built on a stifling defense that leads the NFL in quarterback takedowns and victories through grinding, time-consuming possessions.

The other contender, leading the NFC, demonstrated an explosive offense capable of scoring from anywhere. They feature a formidable running attack to complement an elite aerial game.

A key matchup could be if the high-flying offence can withstand the relentless pressure of the elite defensive unit—a a fascinating potential showdown.

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

Amid the fallout from the Kansas City's loss, remarks from the quarterback about his star teammate sparked rumors about a potential retirement.

Listening to him say, "every season... I try to appreciate because you never know" definitely seemed like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"He will have the choice to do whatever he wants to do after this campaign," he continued. If the season concludes prematurely for the Chiefs, the three-time champion winner might choose to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines Week 15

The Bills' quarterback did it all again for Buffalo in a snowy victory. Allen passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another, accounting for a staggering percentage of his offense's overall touchdowns this season.

He is the only quarterback in league history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and 10 running scores in 3 consecutive seasons.

Now, he puts the team on his shoulders once more as they aim to chase down their AFC East rivals, the Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they play this coming Sunday.

Key Upcoming Week Games:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the longest play of the season—sparked a scoring blitz for one team.
• A prolific receiver scored two scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared defensive end recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
• An overseas placekicker helped his squad in a surprise victory in rainy weather.
• A offense that was held scoreless one game responded with a shutout of its own the next.
• A struggling team watched its star quarterback return from an elbow issue, only to leave the game again with a similar ailment.