Buffalo's Bay Day Gives New England Route to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10

The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many people into the NFL

This outcome may have opened things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their eight and two competitors

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up 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 - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard average

Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just later

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

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

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

Regarding the New England, they're among three 8-2 teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the best?

One could pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Broncos

The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration

Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to victory

The defense is reliable and rookie running back Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this season on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks 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 more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but face the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list

The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash

Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two ahead of next week's major game between the two in LA

Both have won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a game

Both could realistically be undefeated as too - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick deflected and returned by the Eagles for a score

The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the NFL

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

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three touchdowns and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards