Bills' Bay Day Gives New England Path 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 Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
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 row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the best?
You can pick holes in New England, the Broncos and the Colts actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like 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 continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to success
The defensive unit is solid and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to break 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for first place but face the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both scored forty points to go to 7-2 before next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Both could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're truly among the best sides in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards