Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories achieved against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to victory
The defense is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is open for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three eight and two teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to reach 7-2 before next week's major meeting between the pair in LA
They've both secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a game
Both could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the best sides in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards