🔗 Share this article

The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the NFL

That result may have opened things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and performance

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

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

Containing the league's best running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the season and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard average

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just two plays

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team out of it - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this year

The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East

Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

Regarding the New England, they're among three different 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?

One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a declaration

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

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he certainly deserves credit for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his team to victory

The defensive unit is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

Although you can debate who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, although a significant contest 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 compete for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Colts also face the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the door is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Showdown

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up forty points to go to seven and two before next week's major meeting between the two in Los Angeles

Both have won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a game

Each could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses 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 blocked and returned by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the best sides in the league

The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the year to date

Top Performer - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards