Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives New England Route to Top Spot - Highlights 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 may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the league's best running game was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three eight and two teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their combined twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos
Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive victories, similar to Denver, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his team to victory
The defense is solid and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo
Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There is a long way to go but the door is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each scored forty points to go to 7-2 ahead of next week's major game between the two in LA
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their two defeats came in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, 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 two of the best sides in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year to date
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards