Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week again delivered, with a huge upset for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives 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 top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the composed, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this year
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC teams, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four wins achieved against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his team to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a shock top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each put up forty points to reach seven and two before next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
Both have secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, 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 two defeats came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick blocked and returned by the Eagles for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, 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 most exciting of the year to date
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards