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Every matchup matters down the stretch, with a number of enormous outcomes in week 14 that may determine postseason spots by the conclusion of the season.

A 42-year-old veteran quarterback landed a major setback to Lamar Jackson's postseason hopes, while Josh Allen virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston defense posed a huge problem and could have concluded the Chiefs' campaign earlier than ever before in the Patrick Mahomes era.

Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Expectations

Three massive division clashes lived up to the hype.

Veteran signal-caller Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, guided his squad to a gritty 27-22 victory in on the road. He recorded his initial rushing score in almost three years, however it was his long throws to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of kilter as his team missed key chances—although they were left fuming by a late touchdown being nullified. These franchises will meet again on the last day of the regular season.

In another, the longest-running feud in the league witnessed a thrilling contest. Despite scoring bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to thwart another fourth-quarter rally from the opposing young quarterback in the frigid conditions.

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

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

Projections assign the Kansas City only a 15% chance of making the postseason. In all likelihood, this could be the first missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a decade.

In his seven full seasons as a starter, he has advanced to 7 AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls. That indicates the team has competed in almost every possible contest during his tenure.

Therefore, the reasons for the current failure are evident and were summed up during the recent loss. Injuries decimated an already questionable O-line, with several key players out.

Even then, the quarterback gave his squad a fighting chance, however missed field goals and costly dropped passes—including on a decisive fourth-down play—sealed their downfall.

In Focus: Could the Lombardi Trophy Be Destined for the West?

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

One team, leading their the AFC, claimed the most recent title held at this year's stadium. They are built on a dominant defense that tops the league in sacks and victories through grinding, long drives.

The other team, atop the NFC, demonstrated an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from anywhere. They boast a two-headed running attack to complement an elite passing attack.

A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offence could withstand the smothering pass rush of the top defense—what would be a must-watch playoff matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Retirement?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his longtime tight end fueled speculation about a potential retirement.

Hearing Mahomes say, "every year... I try to appreciate since you never know" definitely sounded like the QB was bracing for the veteran to hang up his cleats.

"He will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do after this campaign," Mahomes added. If the year ends early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl veteran could decide to retire.

Looking Ahead: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines the Upcoming Slate

Josh Allen did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry victory. Allen threw three touchdowns and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering percentage of his offense's total scores this year.

He is the first player in league history with 3,000 passing yards, twenty touchdown passes and ten running touchdowns in 3 consecutive seasons.

Now, he puts the Bills on his back again as they aim to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—and, they are exactly who they play this coming Sunday.

Major Week 15 Games:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard touchdown—the biggest scoring play of the season—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific wide receiver caught 2 touchdowns and is still on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season mark.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
• A offense that was held scoreless one week bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the next.
• A reeling franchise saw its star quarterback come back from injury, only to leave the contest again with a similar ailment.