Buffalo's Bay Day Gives Patriots 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' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP 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 something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year
Miami have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two teams in the league, all AFC teams, but are they the top team?
You can find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined twenty-four wins coming against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves point for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to guide his team to success
The defensive unit is reliable and rookie rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score
While you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Clash
Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who both scored forty points to go to 7-2 before the upcoming major game between the two in LA
Both have secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Both could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick deflected and returned by the Eagles for a score
Seattle also lost 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 - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another 42 {receiving yards