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

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen along with Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for what could be an AFC East championship showdown
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that draws so many fans into the National Football League

This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their 8-2 competitors

Over in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

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

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and display

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's best offenses

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns

Containing the league's best rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard season average

Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to seven points just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the calm, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year

The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the American Football Conference East

Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

TreVeyon Henderson running
Henderson clocked the fifth quickest speed in the NFL this season

Speaking of the New England, they're one of three different 8-2 teams in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the best?

One could find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver

Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a statement

Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was significant

Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to success

The defense is solid and first-year running back Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown

Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record due 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 Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There is a long way to go but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Showdown

Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three eight and two teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to go to seven and two ahead of next week's major game between the two in Los Angeles

Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game

Both could easily be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly two of the top teams in the league

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year so far

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Jonathan Taylor is pursuing multiple running and touchdown records

Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards

Craig Lopez
Craig Lopez

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot machine mechanics and player psychology.