Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Path to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action
- Published:
- Comments: 3
Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL
This outcome could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to answer
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and just over half their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just later
It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out 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 summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?
You can find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined 24 wins achieved against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Denver
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration
Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight victories, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials 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 defense is reliable and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his first score
While you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, although a huge one against the Bills
Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each scored forty points to go to seven and two before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the two 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 under 20 points a contest
Both could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards