Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10
- Published:
- Comments: 3
Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League
That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their 8-2 rivals
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation 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 the Bills?
Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and performance
MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and just over half their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're one of three different eight and two squads in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the best?
You can find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their combined 24 wins coming against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a statement
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his team to success
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22mph this year on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash
Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three eight and two sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each scored forty points to go to 7-2 before next week's major meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly two of the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards