Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year
The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're among three 8-2 squads in the league, all AFC teams, but could they be the best?
You can pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four victories coming against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Denver
Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his team to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There is a long way to travel but the opportunity is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming major meeting between the pair in LA
Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could easily be undefeated as well - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're genuinely two of the best sides in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards