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

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in week 15 for potentially an American Football Conference East championship showdown
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many people into the National Football League

That result could have created things up for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their 8-2 rivals

Meanwhile in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had perfect results to arrange a monster clash next week, while our player of the week is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

Josh Allen in action
Was Josh Allen attempt too much or could it simply have been a bad day for Buffalo?

Was it just an emotional comedown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? That's the question for the Buffalo team to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Miami team ran out 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third period and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was still a significant failure laid by one of the league's top offences

Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but rusher De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores

Containing the NFL's top running game was also key, with James Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami converted to seven points just later

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've seen this year

Miami 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 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 summit of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

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

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

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

Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's victory in Tampa to their primtime win in Orchard Park appears to be a statement

Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to get ready was significant

Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely earns point for bravery after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his side to success

The defensive unit is reliable and rookie rusher Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22 miles per hour this year on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the top team' is technically, the Patriots should be favorites to end with the top record thanks to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against Buffalo

Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for first place but encounter the identical challenge) and also the Green Bay on the fixture list

The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to contend with. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Week 11 Clash

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each put up 40 burgers to reach seven and two ahead of next week's major game between the two in Los Angeles

Both have won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses allowing under 20 points a contest

Each could easily be undefeated as too - particularly the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Eagles for a score

The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly two of the top teams 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 milestones

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three scores and adding another forty-two {receiving yards

Eddie Evans
Eddie Evans

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in casino gaming and strategy development.