Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens New England Route to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many people into the NFL
That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that Miami 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 attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the composed, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team 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 beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves point for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his team to success
The defense is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the top record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a shock top seed in the AFC
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Clash
Both squads with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Both could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Rams as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly two of the top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
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, registering three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards