🔗 Share this article

Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League

This outcome may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences

Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns 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 Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard average

Then there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed

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

One could pick holes in New England, Denver and Indianapolis really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their total 24 victories coming against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver

The Broncos defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their pair of losses came in new head coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to guide his team to success

The defensive unit is solid and rookie running back 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 different runner to exceed 22mph this season on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the best' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list

The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to travel but the door is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown

Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each put up forty points to reach seven and two ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in LA

Both have secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could easily be without a loss as well - particularly the Rams 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 kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a score

Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the top teams in the NFL

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, registering three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards