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

Quarterbacks in action
Josh Allen along with Drake Maye will meet in week 15 for potentially an American Football Conference East championship showdown
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Week 10 again delivered, with a major surprise for the Bills proving the 'any given Sunday' saying that attracts so many fans into the NFL

This outcome may have opened opportunities for the New England Patriots to creep back into a top spot they formerly held, with a schedule that gives them an edge over their 8-2 rivals

Over in the NFC the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to set up a monster clash next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award

The Breakdown - Just a Bad Day for the Bills?

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 letdown from beating the Chiefs last week or a deeper issue? This remains the question for the Bills to address

The Bills had secured seven victories in a row against Miami but were second best from the start as the Miami team ran out 30-13 winners in an eye-opening result - and display

MVP Josh Allen only got the team's opening first down in the third quarter and first points in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was still a massive egg laid by one of the league's top offences

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

Bottling up the league's best running game was crucial too, with James Cook and company registering just 86 yards, their lowest of the season and slightly more than half their 161.5-yard season average

Then there were the three critical turnovers, and the pair from Josh Allen specifically. An pass caught by defense in the end zone resulting in a nine minute possession yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter dropped ball that the Dolphins turned into seven points just later

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, getting into a hole on defensive side and Josh Allen attempting to do too much to rescue his squad from the situation - not the composed, disciplined, well-balanced Buffalo team we've witnessed this season

The Dolphins have served up a varied performances this season so the jury's out on if this is the beginning of a trend, but for the Bills they'll need an instant response in a tough game against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are quietly moving into a nice lead at the summit of the AFC East

In Focus - Patriots Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

TreVeyon Henderson running
Henderson recorded the fifth fastest velocity in the NFL this season

Regarding the Patriots, they're one of three 8-2 squads in the league, all AFC sides, but are they the best?

You can pick holes in New England, the Broncos and Indianapolis actually for dominating the weaker opponents, with only five of their combined 24 wins coming against teams with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Denver

Denver defeated the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia and are masters of the final quarter while Indianapolis can ride Taylor, but the New England adding Sunday's win in Tampa Bay to their prime time win in Orchard Park seems like a declaration

Their two defeats came in new head coach Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, from that point - but defeating Baker 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 certainly earns point for courage after absorbing some savage hits in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his team to victory

The defensive unit is reliable and first-year running back Henderson exploded on game day with 147 rushing yards and two exhilerating scores of fifty-five and sixty-nine yards - becoming just the fifth ball carrier to exceed 22mph this year on his initial touchdown

While you can debate who 'the best' is statistically, the Pats should be favorites to finish with the best record thanks to their schedule - which includes just a single matchup against a successful opponent, although a huge one against the Bills

Visiting Baltimore is also tough, but the Broncos have it more difficult in the AFC West division with the Chiefs to face two times, the Chargers (who might also compete for top seed but face the same problem) and additionally the Packers on the fixture list

The Colts also play the Kansas City, and have the Seahawks, San Francisco and two games with the five and four Jaguars to face. There is a considerable distance to go but the opportunity is open for a surprise number one position in the AFC

Coming Up - Rams & Seahawks Prepare for Next Week Showdown

Two teams with solid claims to be superior to all of the three different eight and two teams are NFC West opponents the Seattle and Rams, who both put up 40 burgers to reach seven and two before next week's major meeting between the pair in LA

Both have won four in a row, have signal callers in Stafford and Darnold playing at an high standard (although Darnold had turnover issues on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defensive units allowing fewer than twenty points a contest

Both could easily be undefeated as well - especially the Rams as their pair of losses came in overtime against the San Francisco and then that agonising loss in Philly when they had a potentially winning field goal with the final play blocked and run back by the Eagles for a touchdown

The Seahawks were also defeated to the 49ers, with a late touchdown in the opening week, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Tampa Bay - so they are genuinely among the best sides in the NFL

The next matchup on Sunday could be the most exciting of the year so far

Player of the Week - Taylor

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

Taylor might be on for a record season after his incredible display in Berlin - running for 244 yards, registering three touchdowns and adding another 42 {receiving yards

Stacey Livingston
Stacey Livingston

Elara Vance is a financial strategist with over a decade of experience in wealth management and personal finance coaching.