Buffalo's Bay Day Opens Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen along with Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for what could be an American Football Conference East championship showdown
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many fans into the NFL

That result could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two rivals

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

Josh Allen in action
Was Josh Allen try too much or could it simply have been a poor performance for the Bills?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to answer

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard average

Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just two plays

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

The Dolphins have served up a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed

TreVeyon Henderson running
Henderson recorded the fifth fastest velocity in the league this season

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

One could find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration

Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, similar to the Broncos, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns point for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to victory

The defense is reliable and rookie rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to break 22mph this season on his first score

While 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

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 Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There is a considerable distance to travel but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Clash

Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each put up forty points to reach 7-2 before next week's major meeting between the pair in LA

Both have secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game

Each could realistically be without a loss as well - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the top teams in the league

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is pursuing several running and touchdown milestones

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

Yolanda Davis
Yolanda Davis

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