Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their 8-2 competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player 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 a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address
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 winners in an surprising result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into seven points just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three different 8-2 teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the best?
You can pick holes in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four wins coming against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a statement
Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns credit for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming major game between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a game
Both could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the best sides in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards