Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Path 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 National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City last week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just two plays
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this year
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?
You can pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 victories coming against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a statement
Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns point for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is solid and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, 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 play twice, the Chargers (who could also compete for first place but face the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There is a long way to travel but the door is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each scored forty points to reach 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season to date
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards