Patriots are division leaders

As we do every Monday, let’s take a look at the conclusions after the eleventh day of NFL soccer:

Taking advantage of Buffalo’s loss, the Patriots are transitorily leaders of the AFC East; they still have two duels left against the Bills. Even more important is the fact that the defense has not allowed more than seven points in three games and Mac Jones is looking more and more comfortable.

1. Atlanta has not scored touchdowns in two consecutive games. Without Corradelle Patterson and Calvin Ridley, that offense has no life. Matt Ryan has two years left on his contract and I would start thinking about potentially moving him in the offseason.
2. Don’t look now, but the Texans defense has allowed 30 combined points in the last two games. They intercepted Ryan Tannehill four times and forced five total turnovers. Tyrod Taylor hurt with his legs and Houston pulled off the upset of the day.
3. Injuries continue to pile up for the Titans, who started the game without Derrick Henry and Julio Jones, then lost A.J. Brown with a chest injury. That being said, Ryan Tannehill has to grow in the face of adversity and he had a lousy game. Inexcusable loss.
4. Justin Jefferson is already one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Kirk Cousins grew up in important moments and the offense was vertical all afternoon. Of course, if Minnesota is going to aspire to the wild card, the defense has to protect the advantages better; once again they almost lost.
5. Always special to be able to watch a talent like Aaron Rodgers play. The problem this week was that the defense, which had been having a very good year, allowed over 400 yards and was a sieve. Concerns about the injury to Elgton Jenkins, especially with Bakhtiari still not ready.
6. There’s a difference between winning without playing well and long ago not looking like a playoff team. Cleveland has scored more than 17 points only once in the last six games, Baker Mayfield is clearly not healthy and they struggled to beat Detroit without their starting QB.
7. D’Andre Swift is the light at the end of the tunnel for the Lions. The running back had one of the best games of his career. Tim Boyle made his starting debut, passed for just 77 yards and threw two interceptions. They are in the driver’s seat for the first pick in the draft.
8. Who would have thought it at the beginning of the year, but the Eagles could easily qualify for the playoffs. They have discovered their identity, and ran for 242 yards against what came in as the best ground defense in the league. A win that could potentially give them a tie-breaker against the Saints.
9. Without Alvin Kamara and their two starting offensive tackles, the Saints lost their third straight game and are officially in trouble. Still healthy, the offense is lifeless and to top it off, the defense had by far their worst game of the season.
10. On a day in which the Titans and Bills lost, the Ravens managed to win without Lamar Jackson. It wasn’t sexy, but Tyler Huntley led them to the series win in the end. Judging by how they played, it’s hard to understand why the Ravens are 7-3, but they have a winning culture.
11. They’re going to clean house at the end of the year in Chicago. This is the kind of loss that is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. To top it off, Justin Fields injured his ribs and the defense allowed the winning touchdown on the final series. So much for the Bears’ season.
12. If there’s one thing you can’t question about this Washington team, it’s how resilient they are. Despite all the injuries, they never stop competing. Taylor Heinicke limited the mistakes and played an excellent game. The defense has limited the opponent to less than 300 yards in 3 straight games.
13. Cam Newton did his part for Carolina, hurting both through the air and on the ground and protecting the ball. The problem was that they couldn’t establish the ground attack, and the defense, which came in with a lot of laurels, allowed 190 yards on the ground.
14. It was the first time all season that Miami’s offensive line did not allow any catches. The offense topped 100 yards on the ground for just the third time this year, but they are going to have to be more explosive to compete. Tua Tagovailoa played well in the second half.
15. Elijah Moore is slowly becoming the most entertaining player on the Jets. Joe Flacco handled the load effectively and distributed the ball well. Quincy Williams was a tackling machine. Matt Ammendola missed two field goals and the Jets are still in the doldrums.
16. With Derrick Henry injured, there is no doubt that Jonathan Taylor is the best running back in the NFL today. Balance, patience and vision to score five touchdowns in the Colts’ superb thrashing of the Bills on the road. Indy is in the fight, but the schedule is tough.

17. The absences of Tremaine Edmunds and Star Lotulelei clearly impacted the Bills defense, which came in as the best in the league and was inviting. They were dominated in the trenches, and Josh Allen was never able to establish himself and had a game to forget.
18. On the surface, a win against the Jaguars shouldn’t say much, but with all the upsets this year, that performance is a breath of fresh air. The 49ers defense dominated and when the offense is upright, they control the tempo of the game.

19. James Robinson is the only reliable weapon in the Jaguars’ offense, and with him in cotton wool, the Jaguars looked really bad. Jacksonville committed a couple of turnovers and were a penalty machine – Urban Meyer’s NFL trademark?

20. The Bengals offense didn’t have their best day at the office, but Joe Mixon was a workhorse and Evan McPherson showed his leggy swagger. The defense forced two turnovers and limited the ground attack. Cincinnati remains firmly in the playoff hunt.
21. The Raiders offense has gone conservative over the last three games, failing to score more than 16 touchdowns in those games. Perhaps Derek Carr’s credit is starting to run out and the defense was a machine for committing dumb penalties that gave Cincy life.
22. Good teams overcome adversity and injuries. The Cardinals had a 2-1 record without Kyler Murray and now have a bye week coming up; good job by Colt McCoy. Zach Ertz has been an important addition and the defense recorded four catches and limited the ground attack.
23. While it is true that the defense allowed too many freedoms through the air against a backup quarterback, the main reason why the Seahawks are practically eliminated from contention is the inability of their offense. If Carroll stays, Wilson goes.
24. Not enough is being said about the jump in the Chiefs’ defense, which has not allowed opponents to score more than 17 points in four games. Against the Cowboys, they recorded five catches and limited a potent offense on a day when KC’s offense didn’t work.
25. This is no time for alarm, but the Cowboys offense has struggled in two of the last three games, coincidentally without Tyron Smith. As if that wasn’t enough, they were also without Amari Cooper and lost CeeDee Lamb on short week.
26. The Chargers blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the way they responded tells us all we need to know about Justin Herbert’s mettle. Austin Ekeler scored four touchdowns and won a vital playoff game.
27. Without TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joe Haden, the defense was a sieve. Although he did not have a bad game, Ben Roethlisberger is a statue and it seems difficult for the Steelers to be contenders with a pedestrian offense from another era.