Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens New England Route to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
This outcome could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our player of the week 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 a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just two plays
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this season
The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a statement
Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is reliable and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to travel but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Each could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick deflected and returned by the Eagles for a score
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're genuinely two of the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards