Bills' Bay Day Opens Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - rather than the calm, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, 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
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the top team?
You can pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total 24 wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos
The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo appears to be a statement
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also compete for first place but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Clash
Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three eight and two sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to go to seven and two ahead of next week's major meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Both could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards