Bills' Bay Day Gives Patriots 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 Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many fans into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the league's best rushing attack was also key, with Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - not the composed, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this season
The Dolphins have served up a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the New England, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC sides, but could they be the best?
One could find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Colts beating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to victory
The defensive unit is reliable and rookie running back Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against Buffalo
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 might also compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 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 Los Angeles, who each put up forty points to reach seven and two ahead of next week's major meeting between the two in LA
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a game
Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Top Performer - 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 an additional 42 {receiving yards