Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven 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 result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - yes Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores
Bottling up the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've seen this season
Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two teams in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the best?
You can pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their total twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Colts beating the Broncos
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park seems like a statement
Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight victories, similar to 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 continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to victory
The defense is reliable and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each scored forty points to go to seven and two before the upcoming major meeting between the pair in LA
Both have secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back 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 game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly two of the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards