Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - yes Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, 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 fumble that the Dolphins converted to seven points just two plays
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the best?
You can pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined twenty-four victories coming against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts beating the Denver
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant
Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns point for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to guide his team to success
The defense is reliable and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth runner to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both put up 40 burgers to reach 7-2 before next week's major meeting between the two in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're truly two of the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards