Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives New England Route to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result may have opened things up for the Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and just over half their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into seven points just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated 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 need 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 top of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?
One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a statement
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, 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 point for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to success
The defense is solid and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming major meeting between the two in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing an additional 42 {receiving yards