As the NFL season entered its final stretch, several teams were fighting to stay in the playoffs while others were looking to make a name for themselves.
This is the point in the season where it's hard not to overreact to the performance of teams already in the playoffs or struggling to stay relevant.
What makes this year intriguing is how little difference there is between the top teams. Whether this will continue is the question.
Here's a look at what we've learned from Week 15 in the NFL, including some standout performances and big injuries to big-name players.
Brutal injuries to star players
Two teams are dealing with injuries that will have long-term consequences.
Not only did the Kansas City Chiefs see their season-ending hopes end with a whimper, but they also lost Patrick Mahomes for the foreseeable future after the starting quarterback suffered a torn ACL.
While the Chiefs and Mahomes explore surgical options, this is the first serious injury for the two-time NFL MVP. This will certainly impact his offseason preparations and likely his ability to start next season on time.
After several years in the AFC class, the Chiefs' reign is over, but whether they can return to the top depends on Mahomes' long-term prospects.
Unfortunately, Mahomes wasn't the only star player to suffer a major injury, as the Green Bay Packers fear star pass rusher Micah Parsons also suffered a torn ACL.
The injury occurred during a non-contact play when Parsons lunged at Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. He needed help getting to the locker room and head coach Matt LaFleur. said the forecast didn't look very good.
Not only does Parsons' prospects look bleak, but the impact this will have on the Packers moving forward cannot be overstated.
Parsons' first season with the Packers went as expected, with the former Cowboy recording 12.5 sacks and 26 quarterback hits. Green Bay made the easy decision to trade two first-round picks plus cornerback Kenny Clark to the Cowboys for Parsons and signed him to a four-year, $188 million contract.
Luckily for the Packers, they are still in control of the playoff path, but the addition of Parsons has made them a Super Bowl contender and they will need to prove they are still going strong as they take on the NFC North leader Chicago Bears.
Another injury to watch out for is Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams, who injured his hamstring, which could be a problem if it becomes a long-term issue.
The Bills remain in a fight with the Patriots for the AFC East.
The New England Patriots had a golden opportunity to lock up the AFC East with a win over the Buffalo Bills, and it looked like they were well on their way to doing so.
Heading into halftime with a 24-7 lead, the Patriots were in great position, but the Bills made it clear they weren't going to go quietly.
Buffalo outscored New England 28-7 in the second half and flexed its muscles, with Josh Allen delivering another signature performance that not only put his team back in contention for the division crown, but also the MVP award.
It became common for the Bills to play their best football in the second half, and they recorded their largest comeback on the road and set a franchise record for total comebacks.
Not only did the Bills offense find its groove in the second half, but the defense also did its job, setting the stage for the rally. After allowing just 285 yards and 24 points in the first half, the Bills defense held the Patriots to just 80 yards and seven points in the second half.
As big as this win was for Buffalo, the Patriots can still finish out the AFC East in the coming weeks, but they will need to learn some lessons from the loss and show they are capable of beating a playoff opponent.
The Texans and Jaguars continue to flex their muscles.
Not many teams will want to face the Jacksonville Jaguars or Houston Texans during the playoffs given how both teams have performed over the past few weeks.
Trevor Lawrence had a dominant performance, throwing six touchdowns against the New York Jets. Of course, a win over the Jets is hardly an accomplishment, but it certainly gets teams' attention as Lawrence found another pass with 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions during the Jaguars' five-game winning streak.
However, the Jaguars have company in the AFC South and the Texans are still a game behind. Jacksonville will need to beat the Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans to secure the division, while Houston will play the Raiders, Chargers and Colts.
While the Texans have relied heavily on their defense this season, C.J. Stroud found his form against the Arizona Cardinals, throwing for 260 yards and three touchdowns. The Texans were also able to run the ball as rookie running back Jauhar Jordan, who replaced the injured Woody Marks, rushed for 101 yards.
Neither team provides favorable matchups for whoever faces them in the playoffs, but the storyline to follow will be who finishes at the top of the division.
Rams dash Lions' playoff hopes
After suffering one of the most shocking losses of the season to the Carolina Panthers, the Rams scored over 40 points in back-to-back games and proved they belong in the NFC.
Sure, it was a little rough at times against the Detroit Lions, but they responded convincingly as the defense tightened up in the second half, holding the Lions to 10 points.
Puka Nacua reminded the NFL that he remains one of the game's toughest receivers, recording nine catches for 181 yards. If Adams' injury keeps him out long-term, Nacua will get more attention from opposing defenses, but limiting his production will be difficult.
The Rams not only secured a playoff spot, but also put the Lions in a difficult position moving forward.
At 8-6, Detroit will need help to make the postseason. Not only do the Lions need to win, but their best path also involves the Packers beating the Bears and losing another game in their final two games to catch them.
Another Cowboys loss to the Vikings
The Dallas Cowboys' playoff hopes are officially on life support after another disappointing prime-time loss, this time to JJ McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings, who have just one win in their last five games entering Sunday night.
For the seventh time this season, Dallas' defense allowed an opponent to score at least 30 points, tying the NFL lead.
After looking like the Cowboys were going to do something interesting in the NFC, they now face another season without making the playoffs.
The performance was another reminder of how much the Cowboys have relied on their offense to mask their defensive woes: The team is 0-6 this season when Dak Prescott throws one or fewer touchdowns and 6-1-1 when he throws multiple scores.
In the end, Jerry Jones' patchwork defense was a bust, and we could see more changes again this offseason.
Which teams are gaining popularity and which ones are fading?
Colts (downward trend): Indianapolis looked like a solid playoff team, but injuries caught up with them, and not even an experienced and rusty Philip Rivers could save their playoff hopes.
Broncos (trending): Denver sits alone atop the AFC and is poised to secure the top spot after erasing a nine-point deficit to beat the Packers and secure a postseason berth.
Bengals (downward trend)): You know your team is doing poorly when there's a lack of preparation on the field, when FC Cincinnati is shutting down at home and off the field because the snow plows aren't clearing the snow from the seats. It's safe to say we could see some changes for the Bengals after another lost season.
Bears (trending up): Anyone hoping Chicago would fall short was disappointed when the Bears regained the lead in the NFC North with an impressive 31-3 victory over the Cleveland Browns on a cold day at Soldier Field. Next up are the Packers, who will look to challenge the Bears for the division lead.
