Bills' Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Route to AFC East Lead - Best of NFL Week 10

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye are scheduled to face in the fifteenth week for what could be an AFC East title decider
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Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL

This outcome could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their eight and two competitors

Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes 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 was it just a poor performance for the Bills?

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

The Buffalo squad had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the start as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising result - and display

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

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

Bottling up the NFL's top running game was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Josh Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami turned into a touchdown just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for Buffalo they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots 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 recorded the fifth fastest velocity in the league this year

Regarding the New England, they're among three eight and two squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the best?

You can find flaws in New England, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total twenty-four victories coming against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis defeating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a statement

Their pair of losses came in recently appointed coach Mike Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight victories, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely deserves credit for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to success

The defense is solid and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record due to their schedule - which features just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against Buffalo

Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for first place but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the AFC

Next Week - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Clash

Both squads with solid claims to be better than all of the three eight and two sides are NFC West opponents the Seahawks and Los Angeles, who both scored 40 burgers to reach 7-2 ahead of next week's major meeting between the two in Los Angeles

They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing under 20 points a contest

Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Los Angeles as their two defeats came in overtime against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially 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 week one, before falling to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the NFL

The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the season to date

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is pursuing several running and touchdown records

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another 42 {receiving yards

Joshua Reeves
Joshua Reeves

A cybersecurity expert and tech writer specializing in web performance optimization and digital infrastructure management.