Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 again delivered, 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 Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and 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 Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just two plays
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this season
Miami have demonstrated a varied performances this year so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?
One could pick holes in New England, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total 24 wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Broncos
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight victories, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns point for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to victory
The defensive unit is reliable and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a long way to go but the door is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Showdown
Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each scored 40 burgers to reach 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA
Both have secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Both could realistically be undefeated as well - especially 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 game-winning kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - 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
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards