Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives New England Route to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye are scheduled to face in the fifteenth week for potentially an American Football Conference East title decider
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the National Football League

This outcome may have opened things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

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

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Josh Allen in action
Did Josh Allen try too much or could it simply have been a poor performance for Buffalo?

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

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were outperformed from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure laid by one of the NFL's best offenses

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

Then there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to seven points just two plays

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this season

The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay in week 11 as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place

TreVeyon Henderson running
TreVeyon Henderson clocked the fifth quickest velocity in the NFL this year

Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three eight and two teams in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?

One could find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four wins coming against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Indianapolis defeating the Denver

The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Buffalo seems like a declaration

Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight victories, just like the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials continue to be discussed, and he certainly earns point for bravery after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his team to success

The defensive unit is reliable and rookie rusher TreVeyon 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 different ball carrier to exceed 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who might also compete for first place but face the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Indianapolis also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash

Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who each scored forty points to go to 7-2 before next week's Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA

Both have secured four victories in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a game

Each could easily be without a loss as too - especially the Rams as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that painful defeat in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning kick with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown

Seattle were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're 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 - Taylor

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

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

Katelyn Horne
Katelyn Horne

Lena is a professional poker player and coach with over a decade of experience, sharing insights to help players improve their game.