Bills' Bay Day Gives Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL
This outcome could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle 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 MVP award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Bills had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the league's best running game was also key, with Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard season average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three 8-2 squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?
One could find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories achieved against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver
Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a statement
Their pair of losses 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 Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves credit for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to victory
The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22mph this season on his first score
Although you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a long way to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three eight and two teams are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to go to seven and two before the upcoming major game between the two in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses allowing under 20 points a contest
Each could realistically be undefeated as well - especially the Rams as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the San Francisco 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 Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the final play of the game 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
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards