The Buffalo Bills were heavy favorites against the New England Patriots, who won three times, but division games in the NFL are never that easy – and the hosts needed a big defensive performance to earn a 24-21 victory.

MVP favorite Josh Allen had one of his quieter games and also suffered a late blow to his throwing arm, while cornerback Taron Johnson’s opportunistic fumble recovery touchdown proved the difference.

Miami’s victory over the 49ers moved them to 7-8, alongside the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals – both of whom also won to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Jonathan Taylor had a monster game with 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns as the Colts beat the Tennessee Titans and showed why they should have run the ball a lot more all season.

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase continued to deliver breathtaking performances as the Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns for the third straight time and continued to hold on.

Burrow passed for more than 250 yards and three touchdown passes for the seventh straight game, another NFL record in an extraordinary season he set despite the Bengals’ struggles.

The Bengals, Colts and Dolphins all need to win their final two games and hope that results elsewhere somehow help them clinch one of the two AFC wild card spots.

The Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars are both doing well, but the Raiders at least ended their 10-game losing streak with a win against the Jags.