🔗 Share this article

Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many fans into the NFL

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

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional comedown 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 the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores

Bottling up the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and just over half their 161.5-yard season average

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

Miami have demonstrated 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 immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed

Regarding the Patriots, they're among three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?

You can pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration

Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was significant

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

The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22mph this season on his initial touchdown

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

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to travel but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before the upcoming major meeting between the two in LA

They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Both could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a score

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

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

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

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