Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens New England Route to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that draws so many fans into the NFL
This outcome may have opened things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes 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 Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just two plays
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three different eight and two teams in the league, all AFC teams, but could they be the best?
You can find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts actually for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a statement
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his side to victory
The defensive unit is reliable and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score
While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There is a long way to travel but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming major meeting between the two in LA
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing under 20 points a game
Both could easily be without a loss as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play blocked 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 game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards