Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives New England Path to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the NFL
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this year
Miami have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos
Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a statement
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his team to victory
The defense is solid and rookie running back Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his first score
Although you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There's a long way to go but the door is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each put up forty points to go to seven and two before next week's major game between the two in Los Angeles
Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be undefeated as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards