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Each matchup matters from here on in, with several massive conclusions in the fourteenth week that might determine postseason positions come the end of the season.

A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers struck a big blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off aspirations, whereas Josh Allen virtually finished the Cincinnati Bengals' chances. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defence presented a significant challenge and could have finished the Kansas City Chiefs campaign earlier than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The Breakdown: Division Deciders Exceed the Expectations

Three critical divisional battles delivered.

Seasoned signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, competing with a injured wrist, led his squad to a tough close victory in on the road. The future Hall of Famer scored his first rushing touchdown in almost three seasons, however it was his deep passes to his top wideout that made the deciding factor.

Lamar Jackson seemed out of sync as Baltimore missed key chances—although they were frustrated by a fourth-quarter score being chalked off. These teams are scheduled to face off once more on the final weekend of the regular season.

In another, the longest-running rivalry in the league witnessed a epic contest. Despite scoring bombs, an exhausted defense had to stop another late-game rally from the visiting rookie quarterback in the freezing weather.

The result gave one team a narrow lead in their division, while the losers plummeted from the NFC's number one seed all the way to seventh.

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

Statistical models assign the Kansas City only a 15% chance of reaching the play-offs. In all likelihood, this will be the initial missed playoffs for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.

In his 7 complete years as a starter, he has advanced to 7 conference championship games and 5 championship games. This means the club has competed in nearly every available game throughout his tenure.

Therefore, the reasons for this year's struggles are clear and were encapsulated during Sunday's loss. Injuries decimated an already struggling offensive line, with several key players out.

Even then, the quarterback gave his team a chance, but failed kicks and costly dropped passes—such as on a key fourth down play—sealed their downfall.

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

A pair of powerhouse teams from the West Coast conferences are making strong cases for Super Bowl contention.

One team, atop their the AFC, claimed the most recent Super Bowl held at February's venue. They are constructed on a stifling defense that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The other contender, leading the other conference, showcased an high-powered offence capable of scoring from anywhere. They feature a two-headed running attack to complement an exceptional passing attack.

A key matchup could be whether the high-flying offense could handle the relentless pass rush of the elite defensive unit—a a must-watch playoff matchup.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?

Amid the aftermath from the Chiefs' defeat, comments from the quarterback about his longtime teammate sparked rumors about a potential retirement.

Listening to him state, "every year... I try to appreciate because you never know" certainly sounded like he was preparing for the veteran to call it a day.

"The tight end will have the choice to do whatever he chooses to do following this campaign," he continued. If the year ends prematurely for the team, the three-time Super Bowl winner could choose to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. Patriots Headlines Week 15

Josh Allen did it all again for Buffalo in a snowy win. Allen passed for 3 scores and ran for one more, responsible for a staggering portion of his team's total scores this year.

Allen is the first player in NFL annals with 3,000 pass yards, 20 touchdown throws and ten rushing touchdowns in 3 straight campaigns.

Now, he puts the team on his shoulders again as they try to catch their AFC East foes, the New England Patriots—coincidentally, they are precisely who they face next.

Key Week 15 Matchups:

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

This Week's Stats, Records & Notes

• A kickoff runback for a 100-yard score—the biggest play of the season—sparked a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A star receiver scored 2 scores and remains on course for a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant defensive end notched his twentieth sack of the season, closing in of the all-time mark.
• An international placekicker played a key role for his squad in a surprise victory in soggy conditions.
• A offense that was held scoreless one game bounced back with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A reeling team saw its star QB come back from an elbow issue, only to exit the game again with a similar ailment.