Buffalo's Bay Day Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10

The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the National Football League

This outcome may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their eight and two rivals

Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones 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? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and display

MVP Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences

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

Containing the league's best rushing attack was also key, 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

Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute possession produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just later

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - not the calm, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season

The Dolphins have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the New England, they're among three eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the best?

One could find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined 24 victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Broncos

Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time win in Buffalo appears to be a statement

Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was huge

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves point for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to success

The defensive unit is reliable and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22mph this year on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against Buffalo

Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Showdown

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to reach 7-2 before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in Los Angeles

They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a game

Both could easily be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a score

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

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards