Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens New England Route to Top Spot - 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 Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and display
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and just over half their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've witnessed this year
The Dolphins have served up a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their combined twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight victories, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge
Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to success
The defense is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22mph this year on his first score
While you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which features just one game against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each put up forty points to reach 7-2 before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in LA
They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a game
Each could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred 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 returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly two of the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards