Buffalo's Disappointing Performance 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 major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their eight and two rivals
Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row 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 achieved the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless 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 total yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard season average
Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into seven points just two plays
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a tough game against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the New England, they're among three 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?
You can find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined 24 wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to success
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22mph this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West 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, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to go to seven and two ahead of next week's major meeting between the two in Los Angeles
Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, 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 defenses allowing under 20 points a contest
Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date
Player of the Week - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards