🔗 Share this article

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

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

Over in the National Football Conference 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 Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

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

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's best offenses

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just two plays

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain 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 quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

Spotlight - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the New England, they're one of three 8-2 squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the top team?

One could pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and the Colts really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four wins coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Colts beating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the reigning 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 success in Buffalo appears to be a declaration

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

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns point for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to victory

The defensive unit is solid and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown

While you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo

Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but face the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list

The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown

Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both 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 quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a contest

Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely two of the top teams in the league

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards