Buffalo's Bay Day Gives New England Path to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL

This outcome may have opened things up for the Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors

Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Just a Bad 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 Buffalo team to answer

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and display

MVP Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's best offenses

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

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard average

Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

Miami have served up a varied performances this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - New England Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Speaking of 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?

One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their total twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver

Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo appears to be a statement

Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight victories, similar to Denver, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns point for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his side to victory

The defense is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against the Bills

Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the schedule

The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to travel but the door is available for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Showdown

Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to reach 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in Los Angeles

Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could easily be without a loss as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score

The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly among the top teams in the NFL

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards