Buffalo's Disappointing Performance Gives New England Route to AFC East Lead - Highlights of Week 10 NFL Action

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen and Drake Maye will meet in the fifteenth week for potentially an American Football Conference East championship showdown
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The tenth week once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' saying that draws so many fans into the NFL

This outcome could have created things up for the New England Patriots to creep back into a leading position they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals

Meanwhile in the NFC 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

The Breakdown - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

Josh Allen in action
Was Josh Allen attempt too much or was it just a poor performance for Buffalo?

Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or something more? That's the question for the Buffalo team to answer

The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against the Dolphins but were second best from the start as the Miami team emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening outcome - and display

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the team's opening first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the final quarter - admittedly the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences

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

Containing the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with Cook and teammates recording just eighty-six yards, their lowest of the year and just over half their 161.5-yard average

Additionally there were the three critical turnovers, and the two from Allen in particular. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins converted to seven points just later

It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defense and Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team from the situation - not the composed, controlled, balanced Bills we've witnessed this season

Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this season so the verdict is uncertain on whether this is the beginning of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers in week 11 as the New England are quietly moving into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots See Path to Unexpected First Place

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

Speaking of the Patriots, they're among three eight and two squads in the NFL, all American Football Conference teams, but are they the top team?

One could pick holes in New England, the Broncos and the Colts really for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 victories coming against opponents with a winning record - and one of those was the Colts beating the Denver

The Broncos defeated the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can ride Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their prime time win in Buffalo seems like a statement

Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's first three games, with seven consecutive victories, similar to the Broncos, from that point - but taking down Mayfield after the Buccaneers had a bye to prepare was significant

Drake Maye's Most Valuable Player credentials won't go away, and he certainly earns credit for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa but persevering to steer his side to victory

The defense is solid and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson exploded on Sunday with 147 yards and two exciting scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth runner to break 22mph this season on his initial touchdown

While you can argue who 'the top team' is statistically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the top record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a winning team, albeit a huge one against Buffalo

Visiting the Ravens is challenging too, but the Broncos have it even tougher in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but encounter the identical challenge) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Indianapolis also play the Chiefs, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the five and four Jacksonville to face. There's a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Week 11 Showdown

Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West rivals the Seattle and Rams, who each scored 40 burgers to go to 7-2 ahead of next week's Hollywood blockbuster game between the two in Los Angeles

They've both won four in a row, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with top receivers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a game

Each could realistically be undefeated as well - particularly the Los Angeles as their pair of losses came in extra time against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick deflected and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown

Seattle were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the final play of the game against the Buccaneers - so they're truly among the top teams in the league

The next matchup on Sunday could be the best of the season so far

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor running
Taylor is chasing down several running and touchdown records

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards

Jordan Bonilla
Jordan Bonilla

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