Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives New England Path to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
Miami have served up a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the best?
One could pick holes in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver
Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight victories, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his side to success
The defense is solid and rookie rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22mph this season on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each scored 40 burgers to go to seven and two before the upcoming major meeting between the two in LA
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly two of the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding another 42 {receiving yards