Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action
- Published:
- Comments: 3
Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
That result could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains 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 Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the league's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total 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 lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average
Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just later
It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - not the calm, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
The Dolphins 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 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 AFC East
In Focus - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed
Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?
You can find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park seems like a statement
Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge
Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his side to victory
The defense is reliable and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his first score
Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against Buffalo
Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule
The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown
Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to reach 7-2 before next week's major game between the pair in LA
Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest
Each could easily be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses 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 blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score
Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the best sides in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Top Performer - Taylor
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards