Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Path to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - 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 threw two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just two plays
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
The Dolphins have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the New England, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?
You can pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a statement
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his side to success
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22mph this season on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a successful opponent, although a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a long way to travel but the door is open for a surprise number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each put up 40 burgers to reach 7-2 before next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in overtime 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 Philadelphia for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards