Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result could have created opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year
The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the New England, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the best?
One could find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his team to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded 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 initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles 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 Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both scored forty points to go to seven and two ahead of next week's major game between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be undefeated as well - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely two of the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season to date
Player of the Week - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards