Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL
That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - not the composed, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the best?
You can pick holes in New England, Denver and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total 24 victories achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves point for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his first score
While you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed 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 games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to reach seven and two before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Each could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly among the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards