Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation 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 comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes Miami had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this season
Miami have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're among three eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the top team?
You can pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Colts defeating 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 Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo appears to be a statement
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his side to success
The defensive unit is reliable and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, although a huge one against the Bills
Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is open for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up forty points to go to 7-2 before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Each could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely two of the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards