🔗 Share this article

The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many fans into the National Football League

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

Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to address

The Bills had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences

Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores

Containing the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their fewest 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 in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami turned into a touchdown just two plays

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this season

The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back 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 American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

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

You can pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like the Broncos, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his team to victory

The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22mph this year on his initial touchdown

Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against the Bills

Traveling to Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

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

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash

Two teams with solid claims 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 7-2 before the upcoming major game between the two in Los Angeles

They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Each could easily be without a loss as well - especially the Rams 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 blocked and returned by the Eagles for a score

Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the best sides in the league

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

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards