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Nwangwu and Allen headline standout plays from NFL Week 10
Week 10 of the NFL season delivered its share of surprises, with a stunning upset by the Miami Dolphins over the Buffalo Bills reaffirming the league’s “any given Sunday” ethos.
The result potentially opens a path for the New England Patriots to reclaim a dominant position in the AFC East, buoyed by a favorable upcoming schedule compared to their 8-2 rivals.
In the NFC, decisive victories for both the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams set the stage for a pivotal clash next week, while our featured player of the week continues to chase both records and the MVP award.
Here’s a look at the top moments from Week 10.
Trump attends Washington game as Dolphins stun Bills – Week 10 recap
Key takeaways from the first half of the NFL season
Josh Allen and Drake Maye are slated to meet in Week 15 in a game that could determine the AFC East title
Was the Dolphins game merely an emotional letdown after the Bills’ victory over the Chiefs, or does it signify a deeper issue? The Bills face the challenge of providing an answer.
Despite winning their previous seven encounters against Miami, the Bills were outplayed from the outset, as the Dolphins secured a convincing 30-13 victory, delivering a statement performance.
While MVP candidate Josh Allen only managed to secure the team’s first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth, the Dolphins, despite having 10 days to prepare, exposed significant vulnerabilities in one of the league’s top offenses.
Tua Tagovailoa contributed with two touchdown passes, but it was running back De’Von Achane who truly stood out, amassing 225 total yards and scoring twice.
Containing the league’s leading rushing attack proved crucial, as James Cook and his fellow rushers were limited to just 86 yards, their lowest total of the season and significantly below their 161.5-yard average.
Furthermore, the three turnovers, particularly the two committed by Allen, proved costly. An interception in the end zone negated a nine-minute drive, while his fourth-quarter fumble was quickly capitalized on by Miami, leading to seven points just two plays later.
The Bills displayed shades of their “old Buffalo” persona, plagued by self-inflicted errors and Allen’s attempts to single-handedly rescue the team – a stark contrast to the composed, balanced performance they’ve shown throughout the season.
While Miami’s performance this season has been inconsistent, raising questions about its sustainability, the Bills must deliver an immediate response in a challenging upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as the Patriots quietly gain ground in the AFC East standings.
TreVeyon Henderson recorded the fifth-fastest speed in the NFL this season.
Speaking of the Patriots, they are one of three 8-2 teams in the NFL, all from the AFC, but are they truly the best?
Concerns can be raised about New England, Denver, and Indianapolis capitalizing on weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against teams with a winning record – one of which was the Colts’ victory over the Broncos.
Denver’s victory over the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and their dominance in the fourth quarter, combined with Indy’s reliance on Jonathan Taylor, present compelling cases. However, the Patriots’ win in Tampa Bay following their primetime victory in Buffalo suggests they may be making a statement.
Their two losses occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel’s first three games, followed by seven consecutive wins, mirroring Denver’s streak. Defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers’ bye week was a significant accomplishment.
Drake Maye’s MVP candidacy continues to gain momentum, as he displayed remarkable resilience in Tampa Bay, enduring punishing hits while leading his team to victory.
The Patriots’ defense remains formidable, and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two electrifying touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards, becoming only the fourth ball carrier this season to exceed 22 mph on his first score.
While the debate over the “best” team remains open, the Patriots may be favored to finish with the top record, given their schedule – which includes only one game against a winning team, albeit a significant one against Buffalo.
A visit to Baltimore will also be challenging, but Denver faces an even tougher path in the AFC West, with two games against the Chiefs, as well as matchups against the Chargers (who could contend for the top seed but face similar challenges) and the Green Bay Packers.
The Colts also face the Chiefs, in addition to the Seahawks, 49ers, and two games against the 5-4 Jaguars. Despite the long road ahead, the opportunity for a surprise top seed in the AFC is emerging.
Which team between the Patriots, Colts, and Broncos has the most favorable remaining schedule?
Two teams with legitimate claims to being among the league’s best are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both scored 40+ points to improve to 7-2 ahead of next week’s highly anticipated matchup in Los Angeles.
Both teams are on four-game winning streaks, feature quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had some turnover issues on Sunday) with top receiving targets, and boast defenses that allow fewer than 20 points per game.
Both teams could easily be undefeated – especially the Rams, whose two losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then in that agonizing loss in Philadelphia when their game-winning field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by the Eagles.
Seattle also lost to San Francisco in Week 1 with a late touchdown and then on the final play of the game against the Buccaneers – which underscores their standing as two of the NFL’s premier teams.
Their upcoming game on Sunday has the potential to be the best of the season thus far.
Jonathan Taylor is on pace to break multiple rushing and touchdown records
Jonathan Taylor is poised for a potentially record-breaking season following his exceptional performance in Berlin, rushing for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns, and adding another 42 receiving yards.
He is currently projected to rush for 1,936 yards, keeping Eric Dickerson’s long-standing record of 2,105 yards within reach if he continues to produce performances like this one.
Taylor could also challenge Chris Johnson’s scrimmage yards record of 2,509, as he is currently on pace for 2,378 – demonstrating his ability to break off for significant runs and touchdowns at any moment.
His fourth hat-trick of the season on Sunday marks the most by any player through 10 weeks, and with 15 rushing touchdowns and 17 overall, he can also chase LaDainian Tomlinson’s records of 28 rushing and 31 total scores.
His 83-yard touchdown on Sunday is the longest of the season, and he also clocked the fastest speed of the season at 22.38 mph. In addition to his speed, he also possesses remarkable strength, evidenced by his 228 yards after contact against the Falcons, which, according to NFL’s NextGen Stats, is the most in eight years.
MVP voters are known to favor record-breakers, and Taylor could very well capture several records if he maintains his current form.
The Baltimore Ravens, who appeared to be struggling earlier in the season, are now back in contention for the AFC North title after a win over the Vikings and Pittsburgh’s loss to the Chargers. The two fierce rivals are still scheduled to face each other twice, including in the final game of the season.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell assumed offensive play-calling duties from coordinator John Morton following three subpar games, albeit against strong defenses.
The result in Washington was a surge in performance, with 44 points scored, 546 total yards, 30 first downs, and Jared Goff largely untouched. Campbell may continue to wear the offensive coordinator’s headset for the foreseeable future.
Matthew Stafford became only the ninth player in NFL history to surpass 400 regular-season touchdown passes as the Rams defeated the 49ers. He also became the first player ever with four touchdowns and no interceptions in three straight games.
It’s rare to see the New York Jets and “amazing” used in the same sentence this season, but in their win over Cleveland, they scored on a 99-yard kick return and then a 74-yard punt return within a span of 36 seconds.
Jaxson Dart became the only rookie quarterback in NFL history with a rushing touchdown in five straight games, but the Giants lost him to concussion before squandering a 10-point lead against the Bears.
Another defeat left the Giants at 2-8 this season, leading to the firing of head coach Brian Daboll, who had been in charge since 2022, on Monday.
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will serve as the interim head coach for the Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers.
Caleb Williams is solidifying his position as the face of the Chicago Bears, leading another late comeback after last week’s memorable performance in Cincinnati.
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