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Every contest matters at this stage, with a number of enormous conclusions in week 14 that could decide play-off positions come the conclusion of the season.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers struck a big blow to the Baltimore Ravens' postseason hopes, whereas the Buffalo Bills quarterback virtually terminated the Cincinnati Bengals' hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense posed a huge problem and may have ended the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever in the Mahomes tenure.

Divisional Analysis: Divisional Showdowns Live Up To the Hype

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

Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a fractured wrist, led his squad to a hard-fought close win in on the road. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running touchdown in nearly three seasons, however it was his deep throws to his star wideout that proved to be the difference.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed out of sync as his team missed key chances—though they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. The two franchises are scheduled to face off once more on the last day of the season.

In another, the oldest feud in the NFL witnessed a epic encounter. Even with scoring bombs, an exhausted defensive unit had to halt another late-game rally from the visiting young QB in the frigid conditions.

This result handed one team a narrow advantage in their NFC North, while the losers dropped from the conference's top spot all the way to seventh.

Analysis: What Has Gone Wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Projections give the Kansas City only a 15% probability of reaching the postseason. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed post-season for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first such for the organization in a ten years.

During his 7 full years as a starting quarterback, he has reached seven conference championship games and 5 championship games. This indicates the team has competed in nearly every possible game during his time.

So, the reasons for the current struggles are clear and were highlighted during Sunday's defeat. Absences decimated an already struggling O-line, with multiple key players out.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his squad a fighting chance, however failed kicks and costly dropped passes—including on a pivotal fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

In Focus: Is the Super Bowl Be Heading for the West?

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

One team, atop their conference, won the most recent Super Bowl held at this year's stadium. They are constructed on a dominant defense that tops the NFL in sacks and victories through methodical, time-consuming possessions.

The second team, leading the NFC, showcased an dynamic offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They feature a formidable running attack to complement an exceptional passing game.

The question could be if the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pressure of the top defense—what would be a must-watch playoff matchup.

Talking Point: Travis Kelce Considering Retirement?

Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, remarks from Patrick Mahomes about his star tight end fueled talk about a potential departure.

Hearing Mahomes say, "every year... 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 choice to do whatever he chooses to do following this season," Mahomes added. Should the season ends early for the team, the three-time champion veteran could choose to retire.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Highlights the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback did it all once more for Buffalo in a wintry win. He threw three scores and ran for another, responsible for a remarkable percentage of his offense's overall touchdowns this year.

He is the only player in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty TD passes and 10 running scores in 3 consecutive seasons.

Now, he puts the team on his back again as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next.

Major Upcoming Week Games:

• Bills @ Patriots
• Detroit Lions @ Rams
• Packers @ Broncos
• Chargers @ Chiefs

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kickoff return for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A prolific receiver caught two scores and is still tracking for a historic 2,000-yard receiving.
• A feared pass rusher recorded his 20th QB sack of the season, moving within reach of the all-time mark.
• An overseas placekicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in soggy weather.
• A team that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A reeling team watched its franchise QB return from injury, only to leave the game again with a similar injury.