Bills' Bay Day Opens Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many people into the National Football League
That result could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team 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 winners in an surprising result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the league's best running game was crucial too, with Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season
Miami have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the best?
One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Colts beating the Denver
Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park appears to be a statement
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was huge
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to success
The defense is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to go to seven and two before next week's major meeting between the two in LA
Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a game
Both could easily be without a loss as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards