Bills' Disappointing Performance Opens New England Route to Top Spot - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in week 15 for what could be an American Football Conference East championship showdown
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that draws so many fans into the NFL

This outcome could have created things up for the 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 Rams had perfect results to set up a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the Most Valuable Player award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Josh Allen in action
Was Josh Allen attempt too much or was it just a bad day for the Bills?

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

The Bills had won seven in a row 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 got the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes Miami had ten days to get ready but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the league's top offences

Tua Tagovailoa passed for two scores but running back Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two touchdowns

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just eighty-six yards, their fewest of the year and just over half their 161.5 yard average

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the two from Allen specifically. An interception in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to seven points just two plays

It was classic 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season

Miami have served up a varied performances this year so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

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

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

You can find flaws in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for dominating the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four victories coming against teams with a winning record - and one of those was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time win in Buffalo seems like a statement

Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight victories, just like the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was huge

Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he definitely earns point for courage after taking some savage hits in Tampa but hanging in there to steer his team to victory

The defense is solid and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this season on his first score

While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to end with the top record due to their remaining opponents - which features just one game against a winning team, although a significant contest against the Bills

Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who could also compete for top seed but face the same problem) and also the Packers on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the American Football Conference

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Showdown

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three 8-2 sides are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who each scored forty points to go to 7-2 before the upcoming major meeting between the pair in LA

Both have won four in a consecutive games, have signal callers in Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a contest

Each could realistically be without a loss as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the final play deflected and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown

The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they're truly two of the best sides in the NFL

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

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

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

Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding another 42 {receiving yards

Angela Gibson
Angela Gibson

Astrophysicist and space journalist with 15 years of experience covering orbital missions and celestial phenomena.