Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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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 NFL
This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just two plays
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the best?
You can find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts beating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight victories, similar to Denver, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to success
The defense is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to break 22mph this season on his first score
While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but face the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to travel but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each scored forty points to reach 7-2 before the upcoming 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 ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards