The results from Week 11 were the best-case scenario for the Buffalo Bills while they had their bye this week.
The Buffalo Bills had their bye this week and were clinging on to a slight lead for the division title in the AFC East. The Miami Dolphins were entering Week 11 on a five-game win streak, three with rookie Tua Tagovailoa under center.
That win streak gave them a 6-3 record and with a win would have been tied with the Buffalo Bills, however, since the Bills won their first matchup they would have held the tiebreaker. In addition, the New England Patriots worked their way back into the conversation with a win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.
The good news for the Buffalo Bills was both teams ended up losing with the Dolphins coming up short by a final score of 20-13 against the Denver Broncos. As for the Patriots, they completed a hail mary at the end of the game but were well short of the end zone and lost 27-20 to the Houston Texans. The Bills hold a one-game lead over the Dolphins and a three game lead over the Patriots.
While the race for the AFC East is far from over, the Buffalo Bills have to feel good about where they currently sit with six games left in the regular season. They not only have the better win-loss record but they have also won their first head-to-head matchup with both teams. In addition, they also have the best division record, which is another key tiebreaker.
As for the other games noted to watch, which impacts seeding within the AFC playoffs, the Colts and Titans were able to secure victories in overtime. The third game, between the Raiders and Chiefs, will be played on Sunday night and a win by the Raiders would help the Buffalo Bills.