Buffalo's Bay Day Opens New England Route to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in week 15 for potentially an American Football Conference East championship showdown
  • Published:
  • Comments: 3

Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL

That result may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two rivals

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Josh Allen in action
Was Josh Allen attempt too much or was it just a bad day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's top offences

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard season average

Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to seven points just two plays

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

The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East

Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson clocked the fifth quickest speed in the NFL this season

Regarding the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the best?

You can pick holes in New England, Denver and the Colts actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 victories coming against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Broncos

The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park appears to be a statement

Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to success

The defense is reliable and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22mph this season on his first score

While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against the Bills

Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a shock number one position in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown

Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored forty points to reach seven and two before next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA

Both have won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Both could easily be without a loss as well - especially the Rams as their two defeats came in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a score

The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely two of the best sides in the league

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date

Top Performer - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Jonathan Taylor is chasing down several running and touchdown records

Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing an additional 42 {receiving yards

Dr. Tina Velasquez MD
Dr. Tina Velasquez MD

Cybersecurity specialist with over a decade of experience in software patching and IT risk management.