Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that draws so many fans into the National Football League
This outcome could have created opportunities 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 competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the New England, they're one of three eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the best?
You can pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their combined twenty-four wins achieved against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Denver
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park appears to be a statement
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to reach seven and two ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in LA
Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing 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
Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game 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 so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards