Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
Miami have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three 8-2 squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?
You can pick holes in New England, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total 24 victories achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to Denver, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was significant
Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns credit for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his team to victory
The defense is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting 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 might also compete for first place but face the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three eight and two teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each scored forty points to reach seven and two ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in LA
Both have won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers 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 under 20 points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score
The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards