Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best rushing attack was also key, with Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard season average
Then 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 converted to seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Bills we've seen this season
Miami have served up a bit of everything 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 tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all AFC teams, but are they the top team?
You can find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time success in Buffalo appears to be a statement
Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, similar to Denver, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his side to success
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this season on his first score
While you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, although a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also compete for first place but face the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up forty points to reach 7-2 before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA
Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing under 20 points a game
Both could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick blocked and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly among the top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season 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 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards