Bills' Bay Day Gives Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many people into the National Football League
That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - yes Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the composed, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots See Path 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 best?
One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts actually for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total 24 wins achieved against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Colts beating the Denver
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to Denver, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to victory
The defense is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to break 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who both put up 40 burgers to go to seven and two before next week's major meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
Both have won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be undefeated as well - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards