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

The tenth week again delivered, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the NFL

This outcome could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their 8-2 competitors

Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange 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 a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores

Containing the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard season average

Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just later

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to dig his team out of it - not the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the top team?

One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 victories achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time success in Buffalo seems like a statement

Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was huge

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his side to success

The defense is reliable and first-year running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22mph this season on his first score

While you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a successful opponent, although a huge one against the Bills

Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also challenge for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a long way to go but the opportunity is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Clash

Two teams with strong arguments to be better than all of the three eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who both scored 40 burgers to reach seven and two ahead of next week's major game between the two in LA

They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning kick with the final play deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a score

Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're genuinely two of the best sides in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year so far

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

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