🔗 Share this article

The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many people into the National Football League

That result may have opened things up for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their eight and two rivals

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash in week 11, 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?

Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the league's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa passed for two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over half their 161.5-yard average

Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just two plays

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - rather than the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this year

Miami have served up a varied performances this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

Spotlight - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed

Speaking of the New England, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all AFC sides, but could they be the best?

One could find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Buffalo seems like a declaration

Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, similar to Denver, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves point for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to success

The defense is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Clash

Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before the upcoming major meeting between the two in Los Angeles

Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a contest

Both could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the league

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards