🔗 Share this article

Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many fans into the NFL

That result may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their 8-2 competitors

Meanwhile 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 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 defeating Kansas City last week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's top offences

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

Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

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

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the calm, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require 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 summit of the AFC East

Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

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

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

The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park 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 the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was significant

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his side to success

The defense is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown

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

Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the same problem) and also 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 Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to go but the door is available for a shock top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Clash

Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who both put up 40 burgers to reach seven and two before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in LA

Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Each could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in extra time 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

The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the league

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year to date

Top Performer - Taylor

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