Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens New England Route to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, 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 ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard average
Additionally there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - not the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
Miami have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the New England, they're one of three eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC teams, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined 24 wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Colts beating the Denver
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Buffalo seems like a statement
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight victories, similar to Denver, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his side to victory
The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, although a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who both put up forty points to go to seven and two before next week's major meeting between the two in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Each could easily be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their two defeats came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the best sides in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date
Top Performer - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and contributing an additional 42 {receiving yards