Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives New England Route to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown 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 rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the best?
You can pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves credit for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores 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 top team' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the top record due to their schedule - which features just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a long way to go but the opportunity is open for a shock number one position in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Clash
Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who both scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA
They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Both could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly two of the best sides in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards