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

Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many fans into the National Football League

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

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to address

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the league's best offenses

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

Bottling up the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to seven points just two plays

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

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two squads in the NFL, all AFC teams, but are they the top team?

One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their total 24 victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns point for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to victory

The defensive unit is reliable and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

Although you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, 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, although a significant contest against Buffalo

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There's a long way to go but the door is available for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 teams are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to go to seven and two ahead of next week's major meeting between the pair in LA

They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could easily be undefeated as well - especially the Rams as their two defeats came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely two of the best sides in the league

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

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding another 42 {receiving yards