Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives New England Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for what could be an American Football Conference East title decider
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many fans into the National Football League

That result may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an edge over their 8-2 rivals

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Josh Allen in action
Did Josh Allen attempt too much or was it just a bad day for Buffalo?

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

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences

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

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and just over half their 161.5 yard average

Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week 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 Unexpected First Place

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson clocked the fifth fastest speed in the NFL this season

Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?

One could find flaws in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis really for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their total 24 wins achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one of those was the Colts defeating the Broncos

Denver defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime success in Orchard Park appears to be a declaration

Their pair of losses came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to guide his team to victory

The defense 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 - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown

Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just one game against a winning team, albeit a huge one against Buffalo

Visiting the Ravens 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 could also compete for top seed but face the same problem) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to contend with. There's a long way to travel but the door is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Clash

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each put up 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before next week's major game between the two in Los Angeles

They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Both could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown

Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are truly two of the top teams in the league

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

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is chasing down multiple rushing and scoring milestones

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

Nathaniel Sanders
Nathaniel Sanders

A writer and philosopher exploring the intersections of chance, psychology, and human experience through engaging narratives.