Buffalo's Bay Day Gives New England Path to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
This outcome could have created things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
Over in the NFC the 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 Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, controlled, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the start of something, 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 nice lead at the summit of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC teams, but are they the best?
One could pick holes in New England, Denver and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts beating the Denver
The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to success
The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the top record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to travel but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three eight and two sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two before next week's major game between the pair in LA
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a contest
Each could easily be undefeated as well - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated 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 are truly among the top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards