Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives New England Path to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10

Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the NFL

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

Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into a touchdown just later

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this year

The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place

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

You can pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Buffalo appears to be a statement

Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant

Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his side to success

The defense is solid and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record due to their schedule - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against Buffalo

Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to go but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both scored forty points to reach 7-2 before the upcoming major meeting between the two in Los Angeles

Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could easily be undefeated as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a score

The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the top teams in the NFL

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

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards