Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens New England Path to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen along with Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for potentially an American Football Conference East championship showdown
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The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many people into the National Football League

This outcome may have opened opportunities for the Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their eight and two rivals

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for Buffalo?

Josh Allen in action
Did Josh Allen try too much or was it just a poor performance for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Bills to answer

The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and performance

MVP Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had 10 days to get ready but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

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

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

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this year

The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson recorded the fifth fastest velocity in the league this season

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

One could pick holes in New England, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their combined 24 wins achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Denver

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park appears to be a statement

Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely earns credit for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his side to victory

The defense is solid and first-year rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to exceed 22mph this season on his initial touchdown

Although you can debate who 'the top team' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the top record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills

Visiting the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a shock top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Showdown

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both put up 40 burgers to reach 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in LA

They've both won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defensive units giving up under 20 points a game

Both could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a score

The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly two of the best sides in the league

The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is chasing down several running and touchdown records

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

Mikayla Guzman
Mikayla Guzman

A seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in gaming strategy and slot machine mechanics.