Bills' Bay Day Gives Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week again delivered, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL
This outcome could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their eight and two rivals
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last 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 emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just two plays
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this year
The Dolphins have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the league, all AFC teams, but could they be the best?
One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Buffalo appears to be a statement
Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to Denver, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge
Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns credit for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to success
The defense is reliable and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which features just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but face the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to reach 7-2 ahead of next week's major game between the two in LA
Both have won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Each could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards