🔗 Share this article

The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that draws so many fans into the National Football League

That result may have opened things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors

Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

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

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

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the final quarter - yes Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's top offences

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

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and teammates registering just 86 yards, their fewest of the season and just over half their 161.5-yard season average

Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just later

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year

Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

Speaking of the New England, they're among three different eight and two teams in the NFL, all AFC teams, but could they be the best?

One could find flaws in New England, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 victories coming against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver

The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their two defeats came in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his team to success

The defensive unit is reliable and rookie rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22mph this season on his initial touchdown

Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which features just a single matchup against a winning team, although a huge one against the Bills

Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Chargers (who could also compete for first place but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to travel but the door is available for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Prepare for Week 11 Showdown

Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA

They've both won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold performing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Each could realistically be without a loss as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick deflected and returned by the Eagles for a touchdown

The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they are truly among the best sides in the NFL

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

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his remarkable performance in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards