Bills' Bay Day Opens New England Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week again delivered, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
This outcome could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
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 display
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - yes Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to seven points just two plays
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the best?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was significant
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defense is solid and rookie rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, although a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There is a long way to travel but the door is open for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who both scored forty points to go to seven and two before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA
They've both secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before losing to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're truly among the top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards