I agree they seem to be pacing themselves some games. I think this manifests itself in two obvious ways:
1) How much Josh runs the ball. Game gets close, time for a 30 yards runs up the middle to take control. We keep hearing the 'break glass' euphemism by the broadcasters.
2) Resting starters. When Buffalo rested Ed Oliver, Taron Johnson and Matt Milano against the Jets because of the short turnaround with Miami later that week I was stunned that we took them so lightly. Even if we allow for Ed actually being injured, resting Taron and MM seemed disrespectful to an NFL team (even if it is the Jests, who BTW always play us tough).
I get contending teams see the regular season as the round robin part of the season where you just have to do enough and stay healthy, but I am just waiting for a quality opponent where this tendency will bite us in the ass.
New England is much improved, if the Bills coast or take them lightly we could easily be 4 -1