Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to Top Spot - Highlights of NFL Week 10

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

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

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

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

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

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns

Containing the league's best rushing attack was also key, with Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just two plays

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year

Miami have demonstrated a varied performances this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East

Spotlight - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed

Regarding the New England, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC teams, but are they the best?

You can find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 wins achieved against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo appears to be a statement

Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight wins, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was huge

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns point for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to success

The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference

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

Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each scored forty points to reach 7-2 ahead of next week's major 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 elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game

Each could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown

Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the best sides in the NFL

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

Top Performer - Taylor

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