Buffalo's Bay Day Gives Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team 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 instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the New England, they're among three 8-2 squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on 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 defeating the Denver
The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a statement
Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight victories, similar to Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was huge
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to success
The defense is reliable and first-year running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
While you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a winning team, although a huge one against Buffalo
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a long way to travel but the opportunity is open for a shock number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each scored forty points to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming major game between the two in Los Angeles
Both have secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their two defeats came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown 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 NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing an additional 42 {receiving yards