Buffalo's Bay Day Opens New England Route to AFC East Lead - 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 fans into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their 8-2 competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and display
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes Miami had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates recording 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 pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year 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 the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the best?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total 24 wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves point for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to guide his team to success
The defense is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this season on his first score
While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is open for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three eight and two sides are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both scored forty points to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles
Both have won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Each could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a score
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another 42 {receiving yards