Bills' Bay Day Gives Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer 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 letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just two plays
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the Patriots, they're one of three different 8-2 teams in the NFL, all AFC teams, but could they be the best?
You can pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defense is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as 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 end with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a winning team, although a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each scored forty points to go to seven and two before next week's major game between the pair in Los Angeles
Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing under 20 points a game
Each could realistically be undefeated as well - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly among the best sides in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards