Bills' Bay Day Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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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 NFL
This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best rushing attack was also key, with Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two squads in the league, all AFC teams, but could they be the top team?
One could pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos
Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns point for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defense is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the AFC
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up 40 burgers to go to seven and two before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA
Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a game
Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in extra time 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 Eagles for a score
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date
Player of the Week - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards