🔗 Share this article

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

This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a remaining games that provides them an edge over their eight and two competitors

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week 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 beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display

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

Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores

Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with James Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over half their 161.5-yard season average

Then there were the three critical ball losses, 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 dropped ball that Miami converted to seven points just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season

The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the jury's out on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

Spotlight - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the Patriots, they're among three different eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the best?

One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Denver

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time win in Buffalo seems like a statement

Their pair of losses came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight victories, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant

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

The defense is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against Buffalo

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list

The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to go but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Clash

Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both scored forty points to go to 7-2 before the upcoming major meeting between the pair in LA

Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a game

Each could easily be undefeated as well - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score

The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the best sides in the league

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

Top Performer - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards