Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that draws so many fans into the NFL
That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that Miami turned into seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
The Dolphins have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three different 8-2 squads in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their combined 24 victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to success
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three different 8-2 teams are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who both put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles
Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely two of the top teams in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing an additional 42 {receiving yards