Bills' 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 huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many people into the NFL
This outcome could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the calm, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the Patriots, they're one of three different 8-2 teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the best?
One could pick holes in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time win in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to guide his team to success
The defense is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
Although you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for first place but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers 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 playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Both could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Rams 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 field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year to date
Player of the Week - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards