Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives New England Route to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

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

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

Over in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the league's top offences

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

Bottling up 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 fifty percent their 161.5-yard average

Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just two plays

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - not the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two teams in the NFL, all AFC sides, but could they be the best?

You can pick holes in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their total twenty-four wins coming against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Colts defeating the Broncos

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

Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was huge

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

The defense is solid and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth runner to break 22mph this season on his first score

While you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against the Bills

Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Showdown

Both squads with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who both scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in LA

Both have secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a game

Each could realistically be without a loss as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the league

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

Top Performer - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and contributing an additional 42 {receiving yards