Bills' Bay Day Opens Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL
That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the league's best rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the jury's out 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 in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC teams, but are they the best?
One could pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Denver
Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, since then - but defeating Baker 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 bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his team to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting the Ravens 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 could also challenge for first place but face 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 matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Clash
Both squads with solid claims to be superior to all of the three eight and two teams are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in Los Angeles
They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they're genuinely among the best sides in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards