Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens New England Path to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Over in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - yes Miami had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but running back De'Von 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 Cook and teammates registering just 86 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 two from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to seven points just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three 8-2 squads in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the best?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant
Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves point for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to victory
The defensive unit is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
While you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but face the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There's a long way to go but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash
Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both put up forty points to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA
They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game
Each could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a score
Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are truly two of the top teams in the NFL
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding another 42 {receiving yards