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

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen along with Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for what could be an American Football Conference East championship showdown
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many fans into the NFL

That result could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week 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 could it simply have been a bad day for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to address

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences

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

Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average

Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year

The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson recorded the fifth quickest velocity in the league this season

Regarding the Patriots, they're among three eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?

You can pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Denver

Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, similar to Denver, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns point for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to success

The defensive unit is reliable and first-year running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown

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

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC

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

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three eight and two teams are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who both scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before next week's major meeting between the pair in LA

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

Each could realistically be undefeated as well - especially the Rams as their two defeats came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a score

Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly among the best sides in the league

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Jonathan Taylor is chasing down several rushing and scoring milestones

Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards

Deborah Rogers
Deborah Rogers

A productivity coach and writer with over a decade of experience helping professionals optimize their workflows and achieve their goals.