Buffalo's Bay Day Opens New England Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action

Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL

This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the final quarter - admittedly Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences

Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two scores

Bottling up the league's best rushing attack was also key, with Cook and company 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 critical turnovers, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to seven points just later

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the calm, controlled, balanced Bills we've seen this season

Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the New England, they're one of three eight and two teams in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?

One could pick holes in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their combined 24 wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Colts beating the Broncos

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant

Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his side to success

The defensive unit is reliable and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to exceed 22mph this year on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, 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 huge one against the Bills

Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Showdown

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different eight and two teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seattle and Los Angeles, who both scored forty points to go to seven and two ahead of the upcoming major game between the pair in LA

They've both secured four victories in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses allowing under 20 points a game

Both could easily be undefeated as well - particularly the Rams as their two defeats came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score

Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly two of the best sides in the NFL

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

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor might be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards