🔗 Share this article

Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL

This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their eight and two rivals

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

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

The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - yes Miami had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's best offenses

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but rusher De'Von 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 company recording just 86 yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard season average

Additionally there were the three crucial turnovers, and the pair from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the calm, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year

The Dolphins have served up a bit of everything this year so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the New England, they're among three eight and two squads in the league, all AFC teams, but are they the top team?

You can pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a statement

Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was huge

Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to success

The defensive unit is reliable and rookie rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against Buffalo

Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who could also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Clash

Both squads with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up forty points to go to seven and two before next week's major meeting between the two in LA

Both have secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a game

Each could easily be undefeated as too - especially the Rams as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the final play deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score

Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the best sides in the league

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

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards