Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

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

That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their eight and two competitors

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash 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?

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences

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

Containing the league's best running game was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone resulting in a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just two plays

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

Miami have served up a varied performances this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

Speaking of the New England, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC sides, but could they be the top team?

One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, similar to Denver, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was huge

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

The defense is reliable and first-year rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

While you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo

Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There is a considerable distance to travel but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC

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

Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to go to seven and two ahead of the upcoming major meeting between the two in Los Angeles

Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Both could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are truly two of the best sides in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date

Player of the Week - Taylor

Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards