Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens New England Path to AFC East Lead - Highlights 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' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL

This outcome could have created things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

Was it just an emotional letdown 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 consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the league's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores

Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the calm, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this season

The Dolphins 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 require an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place

Speaking of the New England, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?

You can pick holes in New England, the Broncos and the Colts actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined 24 wins achieved 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 Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to Denver, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant

Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to success

The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown

Although you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against Buffalo

Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but face the same problem) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to travel but the door is open for a shock top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Next Week Showdown

Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two ahead of the upcoming major meeting between the pair in Los Angeles

They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could easily be undefeated as too - especially the Rams as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown

Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the NFL

The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season so far

Top Performer - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards