Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
- Published:
- Comments: 3
The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL
This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange 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?
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 answer
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to 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 do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've seen this year
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're one of three eight and two squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their combined 24 wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was huge
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is solid and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22mph this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There's a long way to go but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two ahead of next week's major meeting between the two in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be undefeated as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and contributing an additional 42 {receiving yards