Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Path to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in week 15 for what could be an AFC East title decider
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many people into the National Football League

This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors

Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Josh Allen in action
Was Josh Allen attempt too much or could it simply have been a bad day for the Bills?

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address

The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores

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

Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his final 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, falling into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to do too much to dig his team out of it - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson clocked the fifth quickest velocity in the league this year

Regarding the New England, they're one of three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the best?

One could find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver

Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first 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 certainly deserves point for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to guide his team to success

The defense is solid and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the top record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo

Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Showdown

Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each put up forty points to reach seven and two before next week's major game between the pair in LA

They've both won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Both could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Rams as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Eagles for a score

The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the best sides in the league

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is chasing down multiple rushing and touchdown milestones

Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards

Melinda Romero
Melinda Romero

A passionate life coach and writer dedicated to helping others unlock their potential through practical, science-backed methods.