Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens New England Route to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the New England, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time 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 wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Showdown
Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different eight and two teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to go to seven and two ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Each could easily be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated 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 genuinely two of the best sides in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards