- Published:
- Comments: 3
Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many people into the NFL
That result could have created opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City last week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's top offences
Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Containing the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard average
Additionally there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season
The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East
Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place
Speaking of the New England, they're among three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?
One could find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos
The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a declaration
Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, similar to Denver, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant
Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to success
The defense is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown
While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots 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 significant contest against the Bills
Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but encounter 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 five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three eight and two teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each put up forty points to go to seven and two ahead of the upcoming major meeting between the two in LA
They've both secured four victories in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Each could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked 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 last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the top teams in the NFL
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards
