Bills' Bay Day Gives New England Path to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many people into the NFL
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player 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? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter 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 league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami turned into seven points just two plays
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're among three different 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, the Broncos and the Colts actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined 24 wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge
Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to victory
The defense is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to break 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Clash
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who both scored 40 burgers to go to seven and two before next week's major game between the pair in LA
Both have won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in 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 fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards