Bills' Bay Day Gives New England Path to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, 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 defeating Kansas City last week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' 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 calm, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've seen this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're among three eight and two teams in the NFL, all AFC sides, but could they be the best?
You can find flaws in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a positive record - and one of those 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 ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge
Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his side to victory
The defense is solid and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but face the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each scored forty points to reach 7-2 before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in LA
They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a game
Both could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the best sides in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season to date
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards