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

The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many fans into the NFL

This outcome could have created opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their eight and two competitors

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

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's top offences

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores

Containing the league's best rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into seven points just later

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've witnessed this year

Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East

Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the New England, they're among three different 8-2 teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the top team?

You can find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 wins coming against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver

The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a statement

Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to victory

The defense is reliable and rookie running back Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22mph this season on his first score

Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against the Bills

Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for first place but face the identical challenge) and also the Green Bay on the schedule

The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is open for a surprise number one position in the AFC

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week 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 Seattle and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two before next week's major game between the pair in Los Angeles

Both have secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing under 20 points a game

Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score

Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly two of the best sides in the league

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

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards