Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that draws so many people into the National Football League
That result could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the league's best running game was crucial too, with Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard season average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, controlled, balanced Bills we've seen this year
Miami have served up a varied performances this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC teams, but are they the top team?
One could find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time win in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, similar to Denver, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score
While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots 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 the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before the upcoming major meeting between the pair in LA
Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a contest
Each could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Rams as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards