Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL
That result may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to seven points just two plays
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the calm, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?
One could find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total 24 wins achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Colts beating the Denver
The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight victories, just like the Broncos, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to victory
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a long way to travel but the opportunity is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each scored forty points to go to seven and two ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in LA
Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Both could easily be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year to date
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards