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Week 10 once more provided excitement, with a major surprise for the Buffalo Bills proving the 'any Sunday can bring surprises' mantra that draws so many fans into the National Football League

That result could have created things up for the Patriots to creep back into a top spot they used to occupy, with a schedule that provides them an edge over their eight and two competitors

Meanwhile in the National Football Conference the Seattle Seahawks and Rams had ideal outcomes to arrange a major confrontation next week, while our top performer is chasing records as well as the MVP award

Analysis - Simply an Off Day for the Bills?

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

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

MVP Josh Allen only achieved the squad's initial first down in the third quarter and initial scoring in the fourth - admittedly the Dolphins had 10 days to prepare but it was nonetheless a significant failure produced by one of the league's top offences

Tua Tagovailoa threw two scores but running back Achane was the game-changing factor, with 225 total yards and two scores

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

Additionally there were the three crucial ball losses, and the pair from Allen specifically. An interception in the end zone meaning a nine-minute drive yielded no points, and his fourth-quarter fumble that the Dolphins turned into seven points just two plays

It was typical 'old Buffalo' as they shot themselves in the foot, falling into a hole on defensive side and Allen trying to overcompensate to rescue his squad out of it - rather than the composed, disciplined, balanced Bills we've witnessed this year

The Dolphins have demonstrated a varied performances this year so the verdict is uncertain on if this is the start of something, but for the Bills they'll require an immediate bounce-back in a difficult matchup against Tampa Bay next week as the Patriots are sneaking into a nice lead at the top of the American Football Conference East

In Focus - New England Identify Route to Surprise Top Seed

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

One could pick holes in the Patriots, Denver and the Colts actually for feasting on the lesser sides, with only five of their total 24 victories achieved against opponents with a winning record - and one example was the Indianapolis beating the Broncos

The Broncos beat the champion Eagles in Philly and are masters of the final quarter while Indy can rely on Taylor, but the Patriots adding Sunday's win in Tampa to their primtime win in Buffalo seems like a declaration

Their pair of losses occurred in new head coach Mike Vrabel's initial three games, with seven straight wins, just like Denver, since then - but taking down Mayfield after the Bucs had a bye to get ready was significant

Maye's MVP claims won't go away, and he definitely earns point for courage after absorbing some hard tackles in Tampa Bay but hanging in there to steer his side to success

The defense is reliable and first-year running back Henderson exploded on game day with 147 yards and two exciting scores of 55 and 69 yards - establishing himself as just the fifth different runner to break 22mph this season on his initial touchdown

Although you can debate who 'the best' is technically, the Pats should be favourites to end with the best record thanks to their schedule - which features just one game against a successful opponent, albeit a huge one against the Bills

Traveling to the Ravens is challenging too, but Denver have it more difficult in the AFC West with the Kansas City to play twice, the Los Angeles Chargers (who might also challenge for top seed but face the same problem) and additionally the Green Bay on the schedule

The Indianapolis also face the Kansas City, and have the Seattle, San Francisco and two matchups with the 5-4 Jacksonville to face. There is a long way to go but the opportunity is available for a shock top seed in the AFC

Coming Up - Los Angeles and Seattle 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 both put up forty points to reach seven and two ahead of the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster meeting between the pair in LA

Both have won four in a consecutive games, have quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Darnold playing at an elite level (although Darnold had ball security problems on Sunday) with excellent pass catchers, and defenses giving up fewer than twenty points a game

Each could realistically be without a loss as too - especially the Los Angeles as their two defeats occurred in extra time against the 49ers and then that agonising loss in Philadelphia when they had a game-winning field goal with the last kick blocked and run back by the Philadelphia for a touchdown

The Seahawks were also defeated to San Francisco, with a last-minute score in week one, before falling to the last kick of the contest against the Buccaneers - so they're genuinely among the best sides in the NFL

The upcoming game on Sunday could be the best of the season to date

Player of the Week - Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor could be on for a historic year after his incredible display in Germany - running for 244 rushing yards, scoring three scores and contributing another 42 {receiving yards