🔗 Share this article

Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills demonstrating the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that attracts so many people into the NFL

This outcome may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an advantage over their 8-2 competitors

Over in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a monster clash in week 11, while our player of the week is chasing records as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Just a Bad Day for Buffalo?

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

The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were outperformed from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 winners in an surprising outcome - and display

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only got the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - yes Miami had ten days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg produced by one of the league's best offenses

Tua Tagovailoa threw 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 crucial too, with James Cook and company recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard season average

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen in particular. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area resulting in a nine-minute possession produced nothing, and his fourth-quarter fumble that Miami turned into seven points just two plays

It was classic 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defense and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - rather than the calm, disciplined, well-balanced Bills we've seen this year

Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the start of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Unexpected First Place

Regarding the New England, they're one of three 8-2 squads in the league, all American Football Conference sides, but could they be the best?

You can find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with just five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver

The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the New England including Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time success in Buffalo seems like a statement

Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight victories, similar to Denver, since then - but defeating Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a week off to get ready was significant

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

The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to break 22 miles per hour this year on his first score

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

Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Chiefs to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but face the identical challenge) and also the Packers on the fixture list

The Colts also face the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the five and four Jaguars to face. There's a long way to travel but the opportunity is open for a shock number one position in the American Football Conference

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

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 both scored forty points to go to seven and two before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles

Both have won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Both could easily be without a loss as too - especially the Los Angeles as their pair of losses occurred in extra time 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 touchdown

The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the game against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the best sides in the league

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

Top Performer - Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards