Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye are scheduled to face in the fifteenth week for potentially an American Football Conference East title decider
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many fans into the NFL

This outcome could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

Josh Allen in action
Did Josh Allen try too much or was it just a bad day for the Bills?

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores

Bottling up the league's best rushing attack was also key, with Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over half 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 resulting in a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just two plays

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the calm, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year

The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson recorded the fifth fastest velocity in the NFL this season

Speaking of the New England, they're one of three different eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the best?

One could find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy 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 two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was significant

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves point for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his team to victory

The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, although a huge one against Buffalo

Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There is a long way to travel but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Clash

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who both scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two before next week's major meeting between the pair in Los Angeles

They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Each could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score

The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the NFL

The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season to date

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is pursuing multiple running and touchdown milestones

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

Renee Mitchell
Renee Mitchell

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