Bills' Bay Day Opens New England Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL
That result could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their eight and two rivals
Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year
Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the top team?
One could find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly earns point for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to victory
The defensive unit is reliable and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to break 22mph this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Green Bay on the schedule
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a long way to go but the door is available for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before next week's major game between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could realistically be undefeated as well - particularly the Rams as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're truly among the top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date
Top Performer - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards