Buffalo's Bay Day Gives Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many people into the NFL
That result could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile 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
The Breakdown - 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 Buffalo team to answer
The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring 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
Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over half their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - not the calm, controlled, 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 start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?
One could find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined 24 wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a statement
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to success
The defense is reliable and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this season on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes 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 more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the fixture list
The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There's a long way to travel but the opportunity is open for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each scored forty points to go to seven and two ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses 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 deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards