🔗 Share this article

The tenth week 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

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

Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Bills to address

The Bills had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's best offenses

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

Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard season average

Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just later

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

Miami have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the league, all AFC sides, but could they be the best?

You can find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo appears to be a declaration

Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight victories, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating 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 credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his team to victory

The defensive unit is solid and rookie running back Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his initial touchdown

Although you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Clash

Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three eight and two sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up forty points to go to seven and two ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in LA

They've both won four in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses allowing under 20 points a contest

Both could realistically be undefeated as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score

Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the top teams in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year to date

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another 42 {receiving yards