Buffalo's Bay Day Opens New England Path to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the calm, controlled, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
Miami have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning 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 top of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're among three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC teams, but could they be the top team?
You can find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to Denver, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his team to victory
The defense is reliable and rookie running back Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a long way to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC
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 National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both put up forty points to reach 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in LA
Both have secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a contest
Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards