Bills' Bay Day Opens New England Path to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in week 15 for what could be an American Football Conference East title decider
  • Published:
  • Comments: 3

Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL

This outcome could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their eight and two competitors

Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

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

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

The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, 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

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to seven points just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year

Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place

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

Speaking of the New England, they're among three different 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the top team?

One could pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined twenty-four wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, similar to Denver, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was huge

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his team to success

The defense is reliable and first-year 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 - becoming 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 statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, although a huge one against the Bills

Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC

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

Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each put up forty points to go to seven and two before the upcoming major game between the two in LA

Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a game

Both could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly two of the top teams in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season to date

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Jonathan Taylor is chasing down multiple running and scoring records

Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards

Ashley Marquez
Ashley Marquez

A tech journalist with a passion for exploring emerging technologies and their impact on society.