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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many fans into the National Football League
This outcome may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their eight and two competitors
Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is pursuing milestones as well as the MVP award
Analysis - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?
Could it simply have been an emotional letdown from beating the Chiefs the previous week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to address
The Buffalo squad had won seven in a consecutive games against Miami but were second best from the beginning as the Dolphins ran out 30-13 victors in an surprising outcome - and display
MVP quarterback Josh Allen only achieved the squad's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - admittedly Miami had ten days to prepare but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the league's best offenses
Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but rusher Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores
Bottling up the NFL's top rushing attack was also key, with James Cook and company recording just 86 yards, their lowest of the year and slightly more than half their 161.5 yard average
Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the two 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 dropped ball that Miami turned into seven points just later
It was typical 'previous Bills teams' as they hurt themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad from the situation - not the calm, disciplined, balanced Bills we've seen this season
Miami have served up a bit of everything this season so the jury's out on whether this is the start of something, but for Buffalo they'll require an instant response in a tough game against the Buccaneers next week as the New England are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the AFC East
In Focus - New England See Path to Unexpected First Place
Regarding the New England, they're among three different eight and two teams in the league, all American Football Conference teams, 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 combined twenty-four victories achieved against teams with a positive record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver
Denver beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are kings of the fourth-quarter while Indy can ride Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's victory in Tampa to their prime time success in Buffalo seems like a statement
Their two defeats occurred in new head coach Vrabel's first three contests, with seven straight victories, just like Denver, from that point - but taking down Baker Mayfield after the Bucs had a week off to get ready was huge
Drake Maye's MVP claims continue to be discussed, and he definitely earns credit for bravery after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa but hanging in there to guide his side to success
The defensive unit is solid and rookie rusher Henderson burst onto the scene on Sunday with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating touchdowns of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his first score
While you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Patriots should be favourites to finish with the best record due to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against Buffalo
Traveling to Baltimore is challenging too, but Denver have it even tougher in the AFC West with the Kansas City to face two times, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also compete for first place but encounter the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the schedule
The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, 49ers and two games with the 5-4 Jacksonville to contend with. There's a long way to travel but the opportunity is available for a shock number one position in the AFC
Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle Set for Next Week Clash
Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different eight and two sides are NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams, who each put up forty points to go to seven and two before the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in Los Angeles
Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Matthew Stafford and Sam Darnold playing at an elite level (although Sam Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with top receivers, and defenses giving up under 20 points a game
Both could easily be undefeated as well - particularly 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 final play deflected and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown
The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before losing to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they're genuinely two of the top teams in the league
The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far
Player of the Week - Taylor
Taylor could be on for a record season after his remarkable performance in Berlin - running for 244 yards, scoring three touchdowns and adding an additional 42 {receiving yards
