Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL
That result may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Bills had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best running game was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team out of it - not the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
Miami have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three different 8-2 squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be 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 combined 24 wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, similar to Denver, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to victory
The defense is reliable and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a long way to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to reach 7-2 ahead of next week's major game between the pair in LA
Both have secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a game
Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're truly two of the best sides in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards