Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives Patriots Path to AFC East Lead - Best of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen along with Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for what could be an AFC East championship showdown
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Week 10 again delivered, with a huge upset for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' mantra that attracts so many fans into the NFL

That result may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to move back into a leading position they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two rivals

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

The Breakdown - 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?

Could it simply have been an emotional comedown from defeating Kansas City the previous week or something more? That's the question for the Bills to address

The Bills had won seven in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and performance

MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had 10 days to get ready but it was nonetheless a massive egg laid by one of the NFL's best offenses

Dolphins quarterback Tua passed for two touchdowns but running back De'Von Achane was the devastating difference, with 225 total yards and two scores

Bottling up the league's best running game was also key, with Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and just over fifty percent their 161.5 yard average

Additionally there were the three critical ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the scoring area meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that Miami converted to a touchdown just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this year

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on if this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a comfortable advantage at the top of the American Football Conference East

Spotlight - Patriots See Path to Surprise Top Seed

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

Speaking of the New England, they're one of three different 8-2 squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?

You can pick holes in the Patriots, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with just five of their total twenty-four wins achieved against teams with a positive record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the reigning champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride 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 declaration

Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Vrabel's initial three contests, with seven consecutive victories, just like Denver, from that point - but defeating Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to prepare was huge

Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves point for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his side to success

The defense is solid and rookie running back Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this season on his first score

Although you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Visiting Baltimore is challenging too, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Chiefs to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule

The Colts also play the Chiefs, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two matchups with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There's a considerable distance to travel but the opportunity is open for a surprise top seed in the AFC

Next Week - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Clash

Two teams with strong arguments to be superior to all of the three different 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Los Angeles, who each scored forty points to reach seven and two before next week's major meeting between the two in Los Angeles

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

Each could realistically be undefeated as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses occurred in extra time against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning kick with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a score

The Seahawks also lost to San Francisco, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the top teams in the league

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

Top Performer - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Jonathan Taylor is chasing down multiple running and scoring records

Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - rushing for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and contributing an additional forty-two {receiving yards

Jason Martinez
Jason Martinez

Elara Vance is a tech journalist specializing in AI and machine learning, with a background in computer science and a passion for demystifying complex topics.