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Every contest counts from here on in, with some huge conclusions in week 14 that may settle play-off berths come the end of the season.

A 42-year Aaron Rodgers dealt a significant blow to Lamar Jackson's play-off hopes, whereas Josh Allen virtually finished Joe Burrow's hopes. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans defense presented a massive problem and could have concluded the Kansas City Chiefs season earlier than ever before in the Mahomes tenure.

The Breakdown: Divisional Showdowns Exceed the Anticipation

Three critical divisional battles did not disappoint.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, playing with a fractured wrist, steered his squad to a gritty 27-22 victory in Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer notched his first running score in almost three seasons, but it was his deep passes to his star receiver that made the deciding factor.

The Ravens' quarterback seemed off rhythm as Baltimore missed key chances—though they were angry by a fourth-quarter touchdown being chalked off. The two teams will meet once more on the last weekend of the season.

In another, the oldest rivalry in the league saw a epic contest. Despite touchdown bombs, an worn-out defensive unit had to thwart another late-game comeback from the opposing young QB in the frigid conditions.

This outcome handed one team a slender advantage in their NFC North, whereas the losers dropped from the NFC's top spot all the way to seventh.

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

Statistical models give the Kansas City only a fifteen percent chance of reaching the postseason. Realistically, this could be the initial missed post-season for franchise QB Patrick Mahomes—and the first for the organization in a ten years.

During Mahomes' seven complete years as a starting quarterback, he has reached 7 AFC Championship contests and 5 Super Bowls. That means the team has competed in nearly every available game throughout his tenure.

So, the reasons for this year's failure are apparent and were summed up during the recent defeat. Injuries ravaged an already dodgy offensive line, with multiple starters out.

Despite that, Mahomes gave his team a chance, but failed kicks and costly dropped passes—including on a key fourth down attempt—sealed their downfall.

In Focus: Is the Lombardi Trophy Be Heading for the West?

Two powerhouse teams from the western conferences are building strong arguments for championship favorites.

One squad, leading their conference, won the most recent Super Bowl played at this year's venue. They are built on a dominant defence that leads the league in quarterback takedowns and victories through methodical, time-consuming drives.

The other team, atop the other conference, showcased an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board from any situation. They boast a two-headed running game to complement an elite aerial game.

The question could be if the high-flying offense can solve the relentless pressure of the elite defense—a a fascinating playoff showdown.

Discussion: A Star Tight End Considering Calling It Quits?

Among the aftermath from the Chiefs' loss, comments from the quarterback about his longtime tight end fueled speculation about a possible departure.

Hearing him say, "every year... I try to cherish since you never know" definitely sounded like he was preparing for the 36-year-old to call it a day.

"He will have the option to do whatever he chooses to do following this season," Mahomes continued. Should the year ends early for the Chiefs, the 3x Super Bowl veteran might choose to walk away.

Preview: Buffalo vs. New England Headlines the Upcoming Slate

The Bills' quarterback put on a show again for his team in a snowy victory. He passed for three scores and rushed for one more, accounting for a staggering portion of his offense's total touchdowns this season.

Allen is the only quarterback in league history with 3,000 pass yards, twenty touchdown passes and 10 rushing scores in 3 straight campaigns.

Next, he tries to carry the team on his shoulders once more as they try to chase down their division foes, the Patriots—and, that's precisely who they play next.

Major Upcoming Week Matchups:

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

This Week's Statistical Highlights

• A kick-off return for a 100-yard touchdown—the longest play of the year—kick-started a second-half onslaught for one team.
• A star wide receiver caught two scores and remains on course for a historic 2,000-yard season.
• A dominant defensive end recorded his twentieth QB sack of the campaign, moving within reach of the single-season record.
• An overseas kicker played a key role for his team in a upset win in soggy conditions.
• A team that was shutout one week responded with a clean sheet of its own the following week.
• A struggling team saw its star quarterback return from injury, only to exit the contest once more with a related injury.