🔗 Share this article

Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL

That result may have opened things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their eight and two rivals

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's best offenses

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores

Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard season average

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just later

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season

The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East

Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two teams in the league, all AFC teams, but could they be the top team?

One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 victories achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos

Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration

Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his team to success

The defensive unit is solid and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to break 22mph this year on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo

Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list

The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Showdown

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each scored forty points to reach 7-2 before next week's major meeting between the two in LA

Both have won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game

Both could easily be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly among the top teams in the NFL

The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far

Top Performer - Taylor

Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding another 42 {receiving yards