Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens 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 could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their eight and two competitors

Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's top offences

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores

Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that Miami turned into seven points just two plays

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the calm, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Speaking of the Patriots, they're one of three different 8-2 teams in the NFL, all AFC teams, but could they be the top team?

You can pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total 24 victories achieved against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Colts beating the Broncos

Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven consecutive victories, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves credit for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his team to success

The defensive unit is solid and first-year running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

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

Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, 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 first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list

The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a long way to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Showdown

Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to reach 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the two in LA

They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a game

Both could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the 49ers 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 touchdown

Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the best sides in the league

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

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards