Buffalo's Bay Day Gives Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10
- Published:
- Comments: 3
Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL
That result may have opened things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to answer
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and company 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 critical turnovers, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just later
It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Bills we've witnessed this year
The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on if this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two teams in the league, all AFC sides, but could they be the top team?
You can find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 wins achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver
The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a statement
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was significant
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns point for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defense is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills
Visiting 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 compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers 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 is a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference
Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two before next week's major meeting between the two in Los Angeles
Both have won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Both could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly two of the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year to date
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards