Buffalo's Bay Day Gives Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye are scheduled to face in week 15 for potentially an American Football Conference East title decider
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The tenth week again delivered, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL

That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their 8-2 competitors

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Josh Allen in action
Did Josh Allen attempt too much or was it just a poor performance for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's top offences

Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that Miami turned into seven points just two plays

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've seen this season

Miami have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

TreVeyon Henderson running
Henderson clocked the fifth fastest speed in the NFL this year

Speaking of the New England, they're among three 8-2 squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?

One could find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver

Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to victory

The defense is solid and rookie rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

Although you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against the Bills

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Clash

Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to go to seven and two before next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA

They've both secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest

Both could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick blocked and returned by the Eagles for a score

The Seahawks also lost 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 are genuinely two of the top teams in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year to date

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is pursuing multiple running and scoring milestones

Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards

Justin Manning
Justin Manning

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in casino strategy development and player psychology.