Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Route to Top Spot - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many people into the NFL

That result may have opened things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 winners in an surprising result - and display

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's best offenses

Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two scores

Containing the league's best rushing attack was also key, with Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard season average

Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into seven points just later

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to dig his team from the situation - rather than the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this year

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

Spotlight - New England See Path to Surprise Top Seed

Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the top team?

One could find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total 24 wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a declaration

Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was huge

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to success

The defense is reliable and rookie rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22mph this year on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the best record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, 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 face the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Week 11 Showdown

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seattle 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 signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Each could easily be undefeated as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown

The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely two of the top teams in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season to date

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and contributing another forty-two {receiving yards