Bills' Bay Day Opens New England Path to AFC East Lead - Highlights of NFL Week 10

The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL

This outcome may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to move 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 Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional letdown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Bills had won seven in a consecutive games against the Dolphins but were outperformed from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses

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

Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with Cook and teammates registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the season and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average

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

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've seen this season

Miami have served up a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start 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 quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East

Spotlight - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?

You can find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on the weaker opponents, with just five of their combined twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay to their primtime success in Orchard Park appears to be a statement

Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight victories, similar to Denver, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to prepare was significant

Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to success

The defense is reliable and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this year on his first score

While you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the best record thanks to their schedule - which features just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to go to seven and two before next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the pair in Los Angeles

Both have won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold performing 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 easily be undefeated as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia 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 San Francisco, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the NFL

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

Top Performer - Taylor

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