Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Opens Patriots Path to Top Spot - Best of NFL Week 10

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye are scheduled to face in week 15 for what could be an American Football Conference East title decider
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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many fans into the NFL

That result could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a remaining games that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had perfect results to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

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

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City last week or something more? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Bills had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and first points in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to get ready but it was still a significant failure produced by one of the NFL's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns

Bottling up the league's best rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than fifty percent their 161.5-yard average

Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his final quarter fumble that the Dolphins converted to a touchdown just two plays

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've witnessed this year

The Dolphins have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place

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

Speaking of the New England, they're among three different eight and two teams in the league, all American Football Conference teams, but could they be the top team?

One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts really for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Colts beating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the Patriots including Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time success in Orchard Park seems like a statement

Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven consecutive victories, just like the Broncos, since then - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to prepare was huge

Drake Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he certainly deserves point for bravery after taking some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but persevering to steer his team to victory

The defensive unit is reliable and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth runner to exceed 22mph this season on his first score

Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to finish with the best record due to their schedule - which features just one game against a successful opponent, although a significant contest against the Bills

Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but encounter the same problem) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a long way to travel but the opportunity is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Set for Next Week Showdown

Two teams with solid claims to be better than all of the three 8-2 teams are National Football Conference West rivals the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 before the upcoming major game between the pair in Los Angeles

Both have secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a game

Each could easily be undefeated as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

Seattle also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they are genuinely two of the best sides in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far

Player of the Week - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Jonathan Taylor is pursuing several running and touchdown milestones

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing another 42 {receiving yards

Angela Jackson
Angela Jackson

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