Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives New England Route to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the NFL
This outcome could have created opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but running back 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 James Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three different 8-2 teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?
One could find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to success
The defense is solid 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 initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There's a long way to go but the door is open for a surprise number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 teams are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who both scored 40 burgers to reach 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 Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could easily be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick 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 year so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards