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

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen along with Drake Maye are scheduled to face in week 15 for potentially an American Football Conference East title decider
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League

That result could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Josh Allen in action
Was Josh Allen attempt too much or was it just a poor performance for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the league's best offenses

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

Bottling up the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average

Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami converted to a touchdown just later

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - not the calm, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season

The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson recorded the fifth fastest velocity in the league this year

Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?

You can find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was huge

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his side to victory

The defense is reliable and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against Buffalo

Visiting the Ravens is also tough, 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 additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown

Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to reach 7-2 before next week's major game between the pair in LA

Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could easily be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score

Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the best sides in the league

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far

Top Performer - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is chasing down several rushing and scoring records

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards

Alec Lee
Alec Lee

A food enthusiast and restaurant reviewer with a passion for exploring diverse culinary traditions and sharing authentic dining experiences.