The tenth week again delivered, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills demonstrating the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many people into the National Football League
This outcome could have created opportunities for the Patriots to move back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an advantage over their 8-2 rivals
Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation in week 11, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the Most Valuable Player award
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Buffalo team to address
The Bills had secured seven victories in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins emerged as 30-13 victors in an eye-opening result - and performance
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the team's initial first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - yes the Dolphins had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg produced by one of the NFL's best offenses
Dolphins quarterback Tua threw two touchdowns but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 combined yards and two touchdowns
Bottling up the league's best rushing attack was also key, 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 two from Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone meaning a nine minute drive produced nothing, and his final quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a deficit on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to dig his team out of it - rather than the composed, controlled, balanced Buffalo team we've seen this year
Miami have demonstrated a bit of everything this year so the jury's out on whether this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the New England are quietly moving into a comfortable advantage at the summit of the American Football Conference East
Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three 8-2 teams in the NFL, all American Football Conference sides, but are they the top team?
One could find flaws in New England, Denver and Indianapolis actually for dominating the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 victories achieved against opponents with a positive record - and one example was the Colts beating the Broncos
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the fourth-quarter while Indianapolis can rely on Jonathan Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time win in Orchard Park appears to be a statement
Their pair of losses occurred in recently appointed coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven consecutive wins, just like Denver, from that point - but defeating Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely deserves credit for courage after taking some hard tackles in Tampa but persevering to guide his side to success
The defensive unit is reliable and first-year running back Henderson burst onto the scene on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exciting touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to break 22mph this season on his initial touchdown
Although you can argue who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their remaining opponents - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, albeit a significant contest against the Bills
Traveling to the Ravens is also tough, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and also the Packers on the fixture list
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the door is available for a surprise number one position in the AFC
Both squads with strong arguments to be better than all of the three 8-2 sides are National Football Conference West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who both put up 40 burgers to reach 7-2 ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
They've both secured four victories in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had turnover issues on game day) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses allowing fewer than twenty points a game
Each could realistically be undefeated as too - particularly the Rams as their two defeats came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that painful defeat in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play deflected and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks also lost to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are truly among the top teams in the league
The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the year so far
Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Berlin - rushing for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another forty-two {receiving yards
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