Buffalo's Bay Day Gives Patriots Path to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action

The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that draws so many fans into the NFL

That result could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

Over in the NFC the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

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

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and display

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - yes Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences

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

Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average

Then there were the three crucial turnovers, and the two from 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 seven points just later

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

Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East

Spotlight - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed

Speaking of the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?

One could pick holes in New England, Denver and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their total twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Denver

Denver beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was significant

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to victory

The defense is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to travel but the door is open for a shock number one position in the AFC

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Showdown

Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who both 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 won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could easily be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play deflected and returned by the Philadelphia for a score

The Seahawks also lost 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 genuinely among the best sides in the league

The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the year so far

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards