Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for potentially an American Football Conference East championship showdown
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that attracts so many people into the NFL

This outcome could have created opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their 8-2 competitors

Over in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

Josh Allen in action
Did Josh Allen attempt too much or was it just a bad day for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

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 surprising result - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - yes Miami had 10 days to prepare but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the league's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total 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 season average

Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area 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 classic 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen trying to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - not the calm, disciplined, balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed

TreVeyon Henderson running
Henderson recorded the fifth quickest velocity in the league this year

Regarding the Patriots, they're among three different 8-2 teams in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the top team?

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

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime success in Buffalo seems like a declaration

Their two defeats occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven straight victories, similar to Denver, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was huge

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to guide his side to success

The defensive unit is solid and first-year running back Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth runner to break 22mph this year on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the best record due to their remaining opponents - which includes just one game against a winning team, albeit a significant contest against the Bills

Traveling to 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 Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is open for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Showdown

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three different 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each put up 40 burgers to reach seven and two before the upcoming major meeting between the pair in LA

Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold performing at an elite level (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a game

Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely two of the top teams in the league

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

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is pursuing multiple rushing and scoring milestones

Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding an additional forty-two {receiving yards

Jonathon Roberts
Jonathon Roberts

Elara is a tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in innovation and transformation projects.