Bills' Bay Day Gives New England Route to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals
Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year
The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're among three eight and two teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?
You can pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Denver
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park appears to be a statement
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was significant
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his side to victory
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this season on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Clash
Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each put up forty points to reach seven and two before next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA
Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely two of the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season to date
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards