Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - 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 proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL
That result could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and display
MVP Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the calm, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year
Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all AFC teams, but are they the best?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their combined twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos
The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a statement
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight victories, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating 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 certainly deserves credit for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his side to success
The defensive unit is solid and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22mph this year on his first score
Although you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to travel but the door is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who both scored forty points to go to seven and two before next week's major game between the pair in Los Angeles
Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing 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 game
Each could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're truly two of the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting 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 rushing yards, scoring three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards