Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Route to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance
MVP 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 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami turned into seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a tough game against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the top team?
One could find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos
Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defense is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is available for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two before next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in Los Angeles
Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could easily be undefeated as well - especially the Rams as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the best sides in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards