Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts 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 remaining games that provides them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over half their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to seven points just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver
Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park appears to be a statement
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven consecutive wins, similar to Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his side to success
The defensive unit is solid and first-year running back Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for first place but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a long way to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who both put up forty points to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA
They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a score
The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly two of the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards