Bills' Disappointing Performance 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 proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result could have created things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was also key, 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 crucial turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just two plays
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Bills we've seen this year
The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this year so the verdict is uncertain 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 - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three 8-2 squads in the NFL, all AFC teams, but could they be the top team?
You can find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their combined 24 wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to victory
The defense is reliable and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22mph this season on his first score
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens 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 compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each put up forty points to reach seven and two before next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be without a loss as well - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding another 42 {receiving yards