Buffalo's Bay Day Opens New England Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10
- 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 draws so many people into the National Football League
This outcome could have created things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors
Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and display
MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Containing the league's best running game was also key, with Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average
Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - not the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
Miami have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three different eight and two teams in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the best?
One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their total 24 wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver
The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration
Their pair of losses came in new head coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, since then - but defeating 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 bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to success
The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the fixture list
The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC
Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Showdown
Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both put up forty points to go to seven and two ahead of the upcoming major meeting between the two in Los Angeles
Both have secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown
Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're truly two of the best sides in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date
Top Performer - Taylor
Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards