Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens New England Path to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL
That result could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule 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 major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just two plays
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year
Miami have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three eight and two squads in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the best?
One could find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver
Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves point for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his team to success
The defensive unit is reliable and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the schedule
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each scored forty points to go to 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in LA
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Each could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards