Buffalo's Bay Day Opens New England Path to AFC East Lead - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
Miami have served up a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the New England, they're among three different eight and two teams in the league, all AFC sides, but could they be the top team?
One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined 24 victories achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to success
The defense is reliable and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22mph this season on his first score
While you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of next week's major game between the two in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year to date
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards