🔗 Share this article

Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League

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

Over in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to answer

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences

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

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard average

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

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the New England, they're one of three different 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the best?

One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver

The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive victories, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his side to success

The defense is reliable and rookie rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

Although you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but face the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There's a long way to go but the opportunity is open for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference

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

Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each scored 40 burgers to reach 7-2 before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA

They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a game

Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play deflected and returned by the Eagles for a score

The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the top teams in the NFL

The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the year to date

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards