Bills' Bay Day Gives Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for potentially an AFC East championship showdown
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many fans into the National Football League

That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their eight and two rivals

Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Josh Allen in action
Was Josh Allen try too much or was it just a bad day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to answer

The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

Bottling up the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average

Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a tough game against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson recorded the fifth fastest speed in the NFL this season

Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?

One could pick holes in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories coming against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's MVP claims 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 success

The defensive unit is solid and first-year running back Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown

Although you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which features just one game against a winning team, although a huge one against Buffalo

Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown

Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each put up 40 burgers to reach seven and two ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in Los Angeles

They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest

Both could easily be undefeated as well - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a score

Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they're genuinely two of the top teams in the NFL

The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Jonathan Taylor is chasing down several rushing and scoring milestones

Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding another 42 {receiving yards

Kevin Moore
Kevin Moore

Agricultural scientist and sustainability advocate with over a decade of experience in eco-friendly farming solutions.