Buffalo's Bay Day Gives New England Route to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL
That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their 8-2 competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and display
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to seven points just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this year
Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC sides, but could they be the top team?
One could pick holes in New England, the Broncos and the Colts actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their total 24 victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Buffalo appears to be a statement
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his first score
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There's a long way to go but the door is open for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who both put up forty points to reach seven and two ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA
They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a contest
Both could easily be undefeated as well - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season to date
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards