Buffalo's Bay Day 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 major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many people into the NFL
That result may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - 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 still a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the league's best rushing attack was also key, with Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and just over half their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to dig his team out of it - not the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
Miami have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC teams, but are they the best?
One could pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their combined twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight victories, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to guide his team to victory
The defense is solid and first-year running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score
While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record due to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge 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, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Clash
Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each put up forty points to go to 7-2 before next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
Both have won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Both could easily be without a loss as well - especially the Rams as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards