Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Best 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' saying that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals
Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into 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 Josh Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two teams in the league, all AFC sides, but could they be the best?
You can find flaws in New England, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their combined 24 victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Colts beating the Denver
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo appears to be a statement
Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to victory
The defense is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There's a long way to go but the door is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Each could realistically be without a loss as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards