Bills' Bay Day Opens 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' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL
That result could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - yes Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just two plays
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year
Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC teams, but are they the best?
One could find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their total twenty-four wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time success in Buffalo appears to be a statement
Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive victories, similar to Denver, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his team to success
The defense is reliable and first-year running back Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score
While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also compete for first place but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a long way to travel but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each put up forty points to go to 7-2 ahead of next week's major game between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are truly two of the top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date
Top Performer - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing an additional 42 {receiving yards