Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens New England 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 attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 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 pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into seven points just two plays
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the league, all AFC sides, but could they be the top team?
One could find flaws in New England, Denver and the Colts actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was huge
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this season on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult 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 also the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their two defeats came in extra time 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 Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly two of the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season to date
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards