Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that draws so many fans into the National Football League
This outcome could have created things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on if this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the New England, they're among three eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC teams, but could they be the top team?
One could find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Denver
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to success
The defense is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score
Although you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the top record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, although a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three eight and two teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each scored forty points to go to seven and two ahead of the upcoming major meeting between the two in LA
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a contest
Each could easily be without a loss as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, 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 top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards