Bills' Bay Day Gives Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - 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 Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the calm, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
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 instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the league, all AFC teams, but could they be the best?
One could pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Denver
The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, similar to Denver, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was huge
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely earns point for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There's a long way to go but the door is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both put up 40 burgers to reach 7-2 before the upcoming major game between the pair in LA
Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be undefeated as well - particularly the Rams as their two defeats came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely two of the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards