🔗 Share this article

Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many fans into the National Football League

That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses

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

Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and teammates recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this year so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

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

One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis really 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 beating the Denver

Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a statement

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

Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his team to victory

The defensive unit is solid and first-year running back Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22mph this season on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the best record due to their schedule - which features just one game against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

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

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown

Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each scored 40 burgers to go to seven and two ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles

They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game

Both could easily be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their two defeats came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a score

The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly among the best sides in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date

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