🔗 Share this article

The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League

This outcome could have created opportunities for the 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

Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and display

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the league's top offences

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

Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard average

Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just later

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed

Regarding the Patriots, they're among three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?

One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their two defeats came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive victories, similar to the Broncos, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant

Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to victory

The defense is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills

Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to go but the door is available for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash

Both squads with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to reach seven and two before the upcoming major meeting between the two in Los Angeles

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 top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Both could realistically be undefeated as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown

Seattle were also defeated 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 genuinely among the best sides in the league

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

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards