Bills' Bay Day Opens Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many people into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
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 player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - not the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC sides, but could they be the best?
You can find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 wins coming against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver
Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was significant
Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to victory
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites 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 Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for first place but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 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 top seed in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in LA
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Rams as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards